Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Chatterer
Argya rubiginosa
Rufous Chatterer (Argya rubiginosa) — 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 Rufous Chatterer (Argya rubiginosa) is a member of the Leiothrichidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 40.6 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 Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes & Allies
- Genus Argya
- Species rubiginosa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 40.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Chatterer is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rufous Chatterer is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Chatterer (Argya rubiginosa) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne, e.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 40.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 10.2 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 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Chatterer?
The Rufous Chatterer is a small bird that weighs around 40.6 g.
Where does the Rufous Chatterer live?
The Rufous Chatterer is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne, e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous Chatterer belong to?
The Rufous Chatterer (Argya rubiginosa) belongs to the Leiothrichidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous Chatterer eat?
The Rufous Chatterer is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Chatterer migrate?
The Rufous Chatterer is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous Chatterer 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 Chatterer make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Chatterer — 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 Rufous Chatterer's range?
The Rufous Chatterer has a mapped global range of about 1.4 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 Leiothrichidae
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Near Threatened
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.