Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Scimitarbill
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) — Hornbills & Hoopoes of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) is a member of the Phoeniculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 27.1 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 Bucerotiformes
- Family Phoeniculidae Wood Hoopoes
- Genus Rhinopomastus
- Species cyanomelas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 27.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Phoeniculidae
- Order
- Bucerotiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Scimitarbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Scimitarbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) is a species of bird in the Phoeniculidae family, part of the order Bucerotiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s, se.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 27.1 g, with a wing length of about 10.8 cm and a tail of around 14.7 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 6.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Scimitarbill?
The Common Scimitarbill is a small bird that weighs around 27.1 g.
Where does the Common Scimitarbill live?
The Common Scimitarbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, se, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Common Scimitarbill belong to?
The Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas) belongs to the Phoeniculidae family, in the order Bucerotiformes.
What does the Common Scimitarbill eat?
The Common Scimitarbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Common Scimitarbill migrate?
The Common Scimitarbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Common Scimitarbill 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 Common Scimitarbill make?
1 real field recording of the Common Scimitarbill — 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 Common Scimitarbill's range?
The Common Scimitarbill has a mapped global range of about 6.4 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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