Black-headed Herons preying on weavers

Abstract

Herons occasionally prey on birds, both adults and nestlings, in an opportunistic manner. This short note reports on a Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala that killed a Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis in a mist-net, but did not manage to extract it from the net. This is the first confirmed report of a Black-headed Heron killing a Cape Weaver. Other records of this heron preying on weavers are listed.