Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-headed Quelea
Quelea erythrops
Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 19.3 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 erythrops
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-headed 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 Red-headed Quelea is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and s to e South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.3 g, with a wing length of about 6 cm and a tail of around 3.4 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 2.6 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-headed Quelea?
The Red-headed Quelea is a small bird that weighs around 19.3 g.
Where does the Red-headed Quelea live?
The Red-headed Quelea is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and s to e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Red-headed Quelea belong to?
The Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-headed Quelea eat?
The Red-headed Quelea is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Red-headed Quelea migrate?
The Red-headed Quelea is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Red-headed 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 Red-headed Quelea's range?
The Red-headed Quelea has a mapped global range of about 2.6 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 Ploceidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.