Photo: Martin Grimm / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cardinal Quelea
Quelea cardinalis
Cardinal Quelea (Quelea cardinalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cardinal Quelea (Quelea cardinalis) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12.7 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 Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Quelea
- Species cardinalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cardinal Quelea is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Cardinal Quelea is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Cardinal Quelea (Quelea cardinalis) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, ec.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.7 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 3.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 672,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cardinal Quelea?
The Cardinal Quelea is a very small bird that weighs around 12.7 g.
Where does the Cardinal Quelea live?
The Cardinal Quelea is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, ec, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Cardinal Quelea belong to?
The Cardinal Quelea (Quelea cardinalis) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cardinal Quelea eat?
The Cardinal Quelea is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Cardinal Quelea migrate?
The Cardinal Quelea is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Cardinal Quelea endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Cardinal Quelea's range?
The Cardinal Quelea has a mapped global range of about 672,000 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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Guides for this bird
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