The Chestnut-and-black Weaver (Ploceus castaneofuscus) the male of which has a chestnut-brown belly and back (not black) and that occurs in Sierra Leone to South Nigeria, was formerly considered to be conspecific with the Vieillot's Black Weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus) (South Nigeria to Uganda, West Kenya, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo) but was split in 2022 based on the striking differences in the colour of the plumage.

A male. Cape Coast, Ghana, 2 September 2010