Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-necked Rockfowl
Picathartes gymnocephalus
White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) is a member of the Picathartidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 196 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Picathartidae Rockfowl
- Genus Picathartes
- Species gymnocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 196 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picathartidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-necked Rockfowl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-necked Rockfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) is a member of the Picathartidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Guinea and Sierra Leone to Ghana.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 196 g, with a wing length of about 16.2 cm and a tail of around 18.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 389,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-necked Rockfowl?
The White-necked Rockfowl is a large bird that weighs around 196 g.
Where does the White-necked Rockfowl live?
The White-necked Rockfowl is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Guinea and Sierra Leone to Ghana, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-necked Rockfowl belong to?
The White-necked Rockfowl (Picathartes gymnocephalus) belongs to the Picathartidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-necked Rockfowl eat?
The White-necked Rockfowl is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-necked Rockfowl migrate?
The White-necked Rockfowl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-necked Rockfowl endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
How large is the White-necked Rockfowl's range?
The White-necked Rockfowl has a mapped global range of about 389,000 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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