Photo: Shelley, 1900 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-shouldered Black Tit
Melaniparus guineensis
White-shouldered Black Tit (Melaniparus guineensis) — 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 White-shouldered Black Tit (Melaniparus guineensis) is a member of the Paridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 16.1 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 Passeriformes
- Family Paridae Tits, Chickadees
- Genus Melaniparus
- Species guineensis
Where it lives
Southern Mauritania and Senegal to southern Sudan and Eritrea, south to Cameroon and northern DR Congo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Paridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-shouldered Black Tit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-shouldered Black Tit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-shouldered Black Tit (Melaniparus guineensis) belongs to the Paridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Mauritania and Senegal to s Sudan and Eritrea, s to Cameroon and n DR Congo.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-shouldered Black Tit?
The White-shouldered Black Tit is a small bird that weighs around 16.1 g.
Where does the White-shouldered Black Tit live?
The White-shouldered Black Tit is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Mauritania and Senegal to s Sudan and Eritrea, s to Cameroon and n DR Congo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-shouldered Black Tit belong to?
The White-shouldered Black Tit (Melaniparus guineensis) belongs to the Paridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-shouldered Black Tit eat?
The White-shouldered Black Tit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-shouldered Black Tit migrate?
The White-shouldered Black Tit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-shouldered Black Tit 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-shouldered Black Tit make?
1 real field recording of the White-shouldered Black Tit — 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 White-shouldered Black Tit's range?
The White-shouldered Black Tit has a mapped global range of about 4.7 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 Paridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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.