Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-headed Mousebird
Colius leucocephalus
White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) is a member of the Coliidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 35.8 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 Coliiformes
- Family Coliidae Mousebirds
- Genus Colius
- Species leucocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 35.8 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Coliidae
- Order
- Coliiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-headed Mousebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-headed Mousebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) is a species of bird in the Coliidae family, part of the order Coliiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 35.8 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 21.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 533,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-headed Mousebird?
The White-headed Mousebird is a small bird that weighs around 35.8 g.
Where does the White-headed Mousebird live?
The White-headed Mousebird is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-headed Mousebird belong to?
The White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus) belongs to the Coliidae family, in the order Coliiformes.
What does the White-headed Mousebird eat?
The White-headed Mousebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the White-headed Mousebird migrate?
The White-headed Mousebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-headed Mousebird 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 White-headed Mousebird make?
1 real field recording of the White-headed Mousebird — 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 White-headed Mousebird's range?
The White-headed Mousebird has a mapped global range of about 533,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Coliidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Unusual & Unique Birds
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened