Editing Ploceidae (section)

==Taxonomy and systematics==
The family Ploceidae was introduced (as Ploceïdes) by Swedish zoologist [[Carl Jakob Sundevall]] in 1836.<ref>{{cite periodical| last=Bock | first=Walter J. | year=1994 | title=History and Nomenclature of Avian Family-Group Names |periodical=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |number=222 | publisher=American Museum of Natural History |location=New York | pages=157, 260 | hdl=2246/830 | url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/830 }}<!--Linked page allows download of the 48MB pdf--></ref><ref>{{ cite journal | last=Sundevall | first=Carl Jakob | year=1836 | title=Ornithologiskt system | journal=Kongliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar | volume=23 | pages=43–130 [74] | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34523886 }}</ref> Phylogenetic studies have shown that the family is [[sister taxon|sister]] to a clade containing the families [[Viduidae]] and [[Estrildidae]]<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=De Silva TN, Peterson AT, Perktas U |date=1 July 2019 |title=An extensive molecular phylogeny of weaverbirds (Aves: Ploceidae) unveils broad nonmonophyly of traditional genera and new relationships |journal=The Auk |volume=136 |issue=3 |doi=10.1093/auk/ukz041 |doi-access=}}</ref> Their common ancestor lived in the middle [[Miocene]] around 18 million years ago.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Oliveros | first1=C.H. | display-authors=etal | year=2019 | title=Earth history and the passerine superradiation | journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States | volume=116 | issue=16 | pages=7916–7925 | doi=10.1073/pnas.1813206116 | pmid=30936315 | pmc=6475423 | doi-access=free | bibcode=2019PNAS..116.7916O }}</ref>

A 2017 [[molecular phylogenetic]] study by Thilina de Silva and collaborators, as well as an expanded study by the same group published in 2019 have indicated that the genus ''[[Ploceus]]'' as currently defined is [[polyphyletic]].<ref name=silva2017>{{Cite journal | last1=De Silva | first1=T.N. | last2=Peterson | first2=A.T. | last3=Bates | first3=J.M. | last4=Fernando | first4=S.W. | last5=Girard | first5=M.G. | date=2017 | title=Phylogenetic relationships of weaverbirds (Aves: Ploceidae): A first robust phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=109 | pages=21–32 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.013 | pmid=28012957 | bibcode=2017MolPE.109...21D | s2cid=205841906 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311908775 }}</ref><ref name=silva2019>{{Cite journal | last1=De Silva | first1=T.N. | last2=Peterson | first2=A.T. | last3=Perktas | first3=U. | date=2019 | title=An extensive molecular phylogeny of weaverbirds (Aves: Ploceidae) unveils broad nonmonophyly of traditional genera and new relationships | journal=The Auk | volume=136 | issue=ukz041 | doi=10.1093/auk/ukz041 | doi-access= }}</ref> A cladogram based on these results is shown below.<ref name=silva2019/>
{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:90%    
|label1='''Ploceidae'''
|1={{Clade
   |1={{Clade
      |1=''[[Amblyospiza]]'' – thick-billed weaver
      |2={{clade
         |1={{clade
            |1=''[[Sporopipes]]'' – 2 species (weavers)
            |2={{clade
               |1=''[[Plocepasser]]'' – 4 species (sparrow-weavers)
               |2={{clade
                  |1=''[[Philetairus]]'' – sociable weaver
                  |2=''[[Pseudonigrita]]'' – 2 species (social weavers)
                  }}
               }}
            }}
         |2={{clade
            |1={{clade
               |1=''[[Dinemellia]]'' – white-headed buffalo weaver
               |2=''[[Bubalornis]]'' – 2 species (buffalo weavers)
               }}
            |2={{clade
               |1={{clade
                  |1=''[[Euplectes]]'' – 18 species (bishops and widowbirds)
                  |2={{clade
                     |1=''[[Ploceus]]'' – 5 species (Asian weavers)
                     |2={{clade
                        |1=''[[Quelea]]'' – 3 species (queleas)
                        |2={{clade
                           |1=''[[Pachyphantes]]'' – compact weaver
                           |2=''[[Foudia]]'' – 8 species (fodies)
                           }}
                        }}
                     }}
                  }}
               |2={{clade
                  |1=''[[Ploceus]]'' – 2 species (Sakalava weaver and Nelicourvi weaver)
                  |2=''[[Ploceus]]''+''[[Malimbus]]''+''[[Anaplectes]]'' – 60 + 10 + 2 = 72 species
                  }}
               }}
            }}
         }}
      }}
   }}
}}

===Genera===
The family includes 15 genera with a total of 122 species.<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | date=December 2023 | title=Old World sparrows, snowfinches, weavers | work=IOC World Bird List Version 14.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/weavers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=9 February 2024 }}</ref> For more detail, see [[list of Ploceidae species]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image
! Genus
!Species
|-
|[[File:Red-billed Buffalo Weaver.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Bubalornis]]'' {{small|A. Smith, 1836}}
|
* [[Red-billed buffalo weaver]] (''Bubalornis niger'')
* [[White-billed buffalo weaver]] (''Bubalornis albirostris'')
|-
|[[File:Dinemellia dinemelli.jpg|175px]]
|''Dinemellia'' {{small|Reichenbach, 1863}}
|
* [[White-headed buffalo weaver]] (''Dinemellia dinemelli'')
|-
|[[File:Plocepasser mahali -Baringo Lake, Kenya -male-8.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Plocepasser]]'' {{small|A. Smith, 1836}}
|
* [[Donaldson Smith's sparrow-weaver]] (''Plocepasser donaldsoni'')
* [[Chestnut-backed sparrow-weaver]] (''Plocepasser rufoscapulatus'')
* [[Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver]] (''Plocepasser superciliosus'')
* [[White-browed sparrow-weaver]] (''Plocepasser mahali'')
|-
|[[File:Weaver bird.jpg|175px]]
|''Histurgops'' {{small|Reichenow, 1887}}
|
* [[Rufous-tailed weaver]] (''Histurgops ruficauda'')
|-
|[[File:Black-capped Social-Weaver - Samburu - Kenya S4E5139 (22836895922).jpg|175px]]
|''[[Pseudonigrita]]'' {{small|Reichenow, 1903}}
|
* [[Grey-capped social weaver]] (''Pseudonigrita arnaudi'')
* [[Black-capped social weaver]] (''Pseudonigrita cabanisi'')
|-
|[[File:Sociable weaver (Philetairus socius).jpg|175px]]
|''Philetairus'' {{small|A. Smith, 1837}}
|
* [[Sociable weaver]] (''Philetairus  socius'')
|-
|[[File:Speckle-fronted Weaver RWD4.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Sporopipes]]'' {{small|Cabanis, 1847}}
|
* [[Speckle-fronted weaver]] (''Sporopipes frontalis'')
* [[Scaly-feathered weaver]] (''Sporopipes squamifrons'')
|-
|[[File:Amblyospiza albifrons, w, vreet netel-dopvrugte, a, Skeerpoort.jpg|175px]]
|''Amblyospiza'' {{small|Sundevall, 1850}}
|
* [[Thick-billed weaver]] (''Amblyospiza albifrons'')
|-
|[[File:Black-headed weaver (Ploceus cucullatus bohndorffi) male.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Ploceus]]'' {{small|Cuvier, 1816}}
|
* [[Baglafecht weaver]] (''Ploceus baglafecht'')
* [[Bannerman's weaver]] (''Ploceus bannermani'')
* [[Bates's weaver]] (''Ploceus batesi'')
* [[Black-chinned weaver]] (''Ploceus nigrimentus'')
* [[Bertram's weaver]] (''Ploceus bertrandi'')
* [[Slender-billed weaver]] (''Ploceus pelzelni'')
* [[Loango weaver]] (''Ploceus subpersonatus'')
* [[Little weaver]] (''Ploceus luteolus'')
* [[Spectacled weaver]] (''Ploceus ocularis'')
* [[Black-necked weaver]] (''Ploceus nigricollis'')
* [[Olive-naped weaver]] (''Ploceus brachypterus'')
* [[Strange weaver]] (''Ploceus alienus'')
* [[Black-billed weaver]] (''Ploceus melanogaster'')
* [[Cape weaver]] (''Ploceus capensis'')
* [[Bocage's weaver]] (''Ploceus temporalis'')
* [[Eastern golden weaver]] (''Ploceus subaureus'')
* [[Holub's golden weaver]] (''Ploceus xanthops'')
* [[Orange weaver]] (''Ploceus aurantius'')
* [[Heuglin's masked weaver]] (''Ploceus heuglini'')
* [[Golden palm weaver]] (''Ploceus bojeri'')
* [[Taveta weaver]] (''Ploceus castaneiceps'')
* [[Príncipe weaver]] (''Ploceus princeps'')
* [[Northern brown-throated weaver]] (''Ploceus castanops'')
* [[Southern brown-throated weaver]] (''Ploceus xanthopterus'')
* [[Ruvu weaver]] (''Ploceus holoxanthus'')
* [[Kilombero weaver]] (''Ploceus burnieri'')
* [[Rüppell's weaver]] (''Ploceus galbula'')
* [[Northern masked weaver]] (''Ploceus taeniopterus'')
* [[Lesser masked weaver]] (''Ploceus intermedius'')
* [[Southern masked weaver]] (''Ploceus velatus'')
* [[Katanga masked weaver]] (''Ploceus katangae'')
* [[Lufira masked weaver]] (''Ploceus ruweti'')
* [[Tanzanian masked weaver]] (''Ploceus reichardi'')
* [[Vitelline masked weaver]] (''Ploceus vitellinus'')
* [[Speke's weaver]] (''Ploceus spekei'')
* [[Fox's weaver]] (''Ploceus spekeoides'')
* [[Village weaver]] (''Ploceus cucullatus'')
* [[Giant weaver]] (''Ploceus grandis'')
* [[Vieillot's black weaver]] (''Ploceus nigerrimus'')
* [[Chestnut-and-black weaver]] (''Ploceus castaneofuscus'')
* [[Weyns's weaver]] (''Ploceus weynsi'')
* [[Clarke's weaver]] (''Ploceus golandi'')
* [[Juba weaver]] (''Ploceus dichrocephalus'')
* [[Black-headed weaver]] (''Ploceus melanocephalus'')
* [[Golden-backed weaver]] (''Ploceus jacksoni'')
* [[Cinnamon weaver]] (''Ploceus badius'')
* [[Chestnut weaver]] (''Ploceus rubiginosus'')
* [[Golden-naped weaver]] (''Ploceus aureonucha'')
* [[Yellow-mantled weaver]] (''Ploceus tricolor'')
* [[Maxwell's black weaver]] (''Ploceus albinucha'')
* [[Nelicourvi weaver]] (''Ploceus nelicourvi'')
* [[Sakalava weaver]] (''Ploceus sakalava'')
* [[Asian golden weaver]] (''Ploceus hypoxanthus'')
* [[Compact weaver]] (''Ploceus superciliosus'')
* [[Black-breasted weaver]] (''Ploceus benghalensis'')
* [[Streaked weaver]] (''Ploceus manyar'')
* [[Baya weaver]] (''Ploceus philippinus'')
* [[Finn's weaver]] (''Ploceus megarhynchus'')
* [[Dark-backed weaver]] (''Ploceus bicolor'')
* [[Preuss's weaver]] (''Ploceus preussi'')
* [[Yellow-capped weaver]] (''Ploceus dorsomaculatus'')
* [[Olive-headed weaver]] (''Ploceus olivaceiceps'')
* [[Usambara weaver]] (''Ploceus nicolli'')
* [[Brown-capped weaver]] (''Ploceus insignis'')
* [[Bar-winged weaver]] (''Ploceus angolensis'')
* [[São Tomé weaver]] (''Ploceus sanctithomae'')
* [[Yellow-legged weaver]] (''Ploceus flavipes'')

|-
|[[File:Crested Malimbe - Kakum - Ghana S4E1412 (22229307983).jpg|175px]]
|''[[Malimbus]]'' {{small|Vieillot, 1805}}
|
* [[Red-crowned malimbe]] (''Malimbus coronatus'')
* [[Cassin's malimbe]] (''Malimbus cassini'')
* [[Rachel's malimbe]] (''Malimbus racheliae'')
* [[Gola malimbe]] (''Malimbus ballmanni'')
* [[Red-vented malimbe]] (''Malimbus scutatus'')
* [[Ibadan malimbe]] (''Malimbus ibadanensis'')
* [[Blue-billed malimbe]] (''Malimbus nitens'')
* [[Red-headed malimbe]] (''Malimbus rubricollis'')
* [[Red-bellied malimbe]] (''Malimbus erythrogaster'')
* [[Crested malimbe]] (''Malimbus malimbicus'')
|-
|[[File:Quelea erythrops -South Africa -building nest-8.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Quelea]]'' {{small|Reichenbach, 1850}}
|
*[[Cardinal quelea]] (''Quelea cardinalis'')
*[[Red-headed quelea]] (''Quelea erythrops'')
*[[Red-billed quelea]] (''Quelea quelea'')
|-
|[[File:Red-headed Weaver male RWD.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Anaplectes]]''  {{small|Reichenbach, 1863}}
|
* [[Red-headed weaver]] (''Anaplectes rubriceps'')
* [[Red weaver]] (''Anaplectes jubaensis'')
|-
|[[File:Madagascar fody (Foudia madagascariensis).jpg|175px]]
|''[[Foudia]]'' {{small|Reichenbach, 1850}}
|
*[[Red fody]] or Madagascar fody (''Foudia madagascariensis'')
*[[Comoros fody]] or red-headed fody (''Foudia eminentissima'')
*[[Aldabra fody]] (''Foudia aldabrana'')
*[[Forest fody]] (''Foudia omissa'')
*[[Mauritius fody]] (''Foudia rubra'')
*[[Seychelles fody]] (''Foudia sechellarum'')
*[[Rodrigues fody]] (''Foudia flavicans'')
*[[Réunion fody]] (''Foudia delloni'')
|-
|
|''Brachycope'' {{small|Reichenow, 1900}}
|
* [[Bob-tailed weaver]] (''Brachycope anomala'')
|-
|[[File:Euplectes progne male South Africa cropped.jpg|175px]]
|''[[Euplectes]]'' {{small|Swainson, 1829}}
|
* [[Yellow-crowned bishop]] (''Euplectes afer'')
* [[Fire-fronted bishop]] (''Euplectes diadematus'')
* [[Black bishop]] (''Euplectes gierowii'')
* [[Black-winged red bishop]] (''Euplectes hordeaceus'')
* [[Northern red bishop]] or orange bishop (''Euplectes franciscanus'')
* [[Southern red bishop]] or red bishop (''Euplectes orix'')
* [[Zanzibar red bishop]] (''Euplectes nigroventris'')
* [[Golden-backed bishop]] (''Euplectes aureus'')
* [[Yellow bishop]] (''Euplectes capensis'')
* [[Fan-tailed widowbird]] (''Euplectes axillaris'')
* [[Yellow-mantled widowbird]] (''Euplectes macroura'')
* [[White-winged widowbird]] (''Euplectes albonotatus'')
* [[Red-collared widowbird]] (''Euplectes ardens'')
* [[Red-cowled widowbird]] (''Euplectes laticauda'')
* [[Marsh widowbird]] (''Euplectes hartlaubi'')
* [[Montane widowbird]] (''Euplectes psammacromius'')
* [[Long-tailed widowbird]] (''Euplectes progne'')
* [[Jackson's widowbird]] (''Euplectes jacksoni'')
|-
|}