Photo: www.opencage photographer / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Plantain-eater
Crinifer piscator
Western Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator) is a member of the Musophagidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 370 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Musophagiformes
- Family Musophagidae Turacos
- Genus Crinifer
- Species piscator
Quick facts
- Weight
- 370 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Musophagidae
- Order
- Musophagiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Western Plantain-eater is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Western Plantain-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Western Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator) is a member of the Musophagidae family, within the order Musophagiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Central African Republic and w DR Congo.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 370 g, with a wing length of about 22.4 cm and a tail of around 22.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Plantain-eater?
The Western Plantain-eater is a large bird that weighs around 370 g.
Where does the Western Plantain-eater live?
The Western Plantain-eater is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Central African Republic and w DR Congo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Western Plantain-eater belong to?
The Western Plantain-eater (Crinifer piscator) belongs to the Musophagidae family, in the order Musophagiformes.
What does the Western Plantain-eater eat?
The Western Plantain-eater is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Western Plantain-eater migrate?
The Western Plantain-eater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Western Plantain-eater endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Western Plantain-eater make?
1 real field recording of the Western Plantain-eater — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Plantain-eater's range?
The Western Plantain-eater has a mapped global range of about 3.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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