What distinctive preliminary shape is often initiated by the male Baya Weaver (*Ploceus philippinus*)?
An intricate upside-down retort shape.
The construction process undertaken by the male Baya Weaver, a species common in India, is a showcase of commitment and iterative refinement. The male typically commences the project by fashioning a very specific initial form known as an intricate upside-down retort shape. This process is not guaranteed; the male may abandon several of these partially built nests before one meets his standards or attracts a suitable female. If courtship is successful, the female assists in transforming this initial shape into the final functional sphere, which retains a vertical entrance tube, demonstrating a high investment of labor before the nesting cycle is truly underway.

#Videos
The Architect of Nature | Weaver Bird Species - YouTube