Photo: Nigel Voaden from UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Black-headed Batis
Batis minor
Eastern Black-headed Batis (Batis minor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eastern Black-headed Batis (Batis minor) is a member of the Platysteiridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12.5 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 Passeriformes
- Family Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes, Batises
- Genus Batis
- Species minor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Platysteiridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Black-headed Batis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Eastern Black-headed Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Eastern Black-headed Batis (Batis minor) belongs to the Platysteiridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Somalia, se Kenya and e Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 4.2 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 280,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Black-headed Batis?
The Eastern Black-headed Batis is a very small bird that weighs around 12.5 g.
Where does the Eastern Black-headed Batis live?
The Eastern Black-headed Batis is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Somalia, se Kenya and e Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Eastern Black-headed Batis belong to?
The Eastern Black-headed Batis (Batis minor) belongs to the Platysteiridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Eastern Black-headed Batis eat?
The Eastern Black-headed Batis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eastern Black-headed Batis migrate?
The Eastern Black-headed Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Eastern Black-headed Batis 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 Eastern Black-headed Batis make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Black-headed Batis — 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 Eastern Black-headed Batis's range?
The Eastern Black-headed Batis has a mapped global range of about 280,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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