Photo: JonRichfield / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-backed Mousebird
Colius colius
White-backed Mousebird (Colius colius) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-backed Mousebird (Colius colius) is a member of the Coliidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 41.4 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 colius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 41.4 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-backed 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-backed Mousebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-backed Mousebird (Colius colius) is a member of the Coliidae family, within the order Coliiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Namibia to s Botswana and South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 41.4 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 20.8 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 1.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-backed Mousebird?
The White-backed Mousebird is a small bird that weighs around 41.4 g.
Where does the White-backed Mousebird live?
The White-backed Mousebird is found across Africa with a range covering AF Namibia to s Botswana and South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-backed Mousebird belong to?
The White-backed Mousebird (Colius colius) belongs to the Coliidae family, in the order Coliiformes.
What does the White-backed Mousebird eat?
The White-backed Mousebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the White-backed Mousebird migrate?
The White-backed Mousebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-backed 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-backed Mousebird make?
1 real field recording of the White-backed 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-backed Mousebird's range?
The White-backed Mousebird has a mapped global range of about 1.6 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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