The Thermal Significance of the Nest of the Sociable Weaver Philetairus Socius: Winter Observations

Summary The Sociable Weaver of southern Africa builds the largest of all birds' nests. Individual nests contain many chambers and may be occupied by a colony of a hundred or more pairs. Most aspects of the biology of this species are linked, either directly or indirectly, to the nest and its construction. One readily demonstrable function served by this enormous nest is the amelioration of the impact of low environmental temperatures.