Photo: Nigel Voaden from UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-bellied Tit
Melaniparus rufiventris
Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) — 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 Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) is a member of the Paridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 18.2 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 rufiventris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Paridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-bellied Tit 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 Rufous-bellied Tit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) belongs to the Paridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sc, se.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.2 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 5.8 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 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-bellied Tit?
The Rufous-bellied Tit is a small bird that weighs around 18.2 g.
Where does the Rufous-bellied Tit live?
The Rufous-bellied Tit is found across Africa with a range covering AF sc, se, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-bellied Tit belong to?
The Rufous-bellied Tit (Melaniparus rufiventris) belongs to the Paridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous-bellied Tit eat?
The Rufous-bellied Tit is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-bellied Tit migrate?
The Rufous-bellied Tit is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-bellied 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 Rufous-bellied Tit make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-bellied 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 Rufous-bellied Tit's range?
The Rufous-bellied Tit has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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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