Photo: Nigel Voaden from UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Black-headed Batis
Batis erlangeri
Western Black-headed Batis (Batis erlangeri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Black-headed Batis (Batis erlangeri) 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 erlangeri
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 Western 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 Western Black-headed Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Western Black-headed Batis (Batis erlangeri) belongs to the Platysteiridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopian plateau and Somalia w to Cameroon and Angola.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 4.3 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 4.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Black-headed Batis?
The Western Black-headed Batis is a very small bird that weighs around 12.5 g.
Where does the Western Black-headed Batis live?
The Western Black-headed Batis is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopian plateau and Somalia w to Cameroon and Angola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Western Black-headed Batis belong to?
The Western Black-headed Batis (Batis erlangeri) belongs to the Platysteiridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Western Black-headed Batis eat?
The Western Black-headed Batis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Western Black-headed Batis migrate?
The Western Black-headed Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Western 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 Western Black-headed Batis make?
1 real field recording of the Western Black-headed Batis — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Black-headed Batis's range?
The Western Black-headed Batis has a mapped global range of about 4.4 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.
Explore more birds
More in Platysteiridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.