Photo: markaharper1 / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mountain Firetail
Oreostruthus fuliginosus
Mountain Firetail (Oreostruthus fuliginosus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mountain Firetail (Oreostruthus fuliginosus) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 18.3 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Oreostruthus
- Species fuliginosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mountain Firetail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Mountain Firetail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Mountain Firetail (Oreostruthus fuliginosus) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane c, se New Guinea.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.7 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 51,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mountain Firetail?
The Mountain Firetail is a small bird that weighs around 18.3 g.
Where does the Mountain Firetail live?
The Mountain Firetail is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane c, se New Guinea, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mountain Firetail belong to?
The Mountain Firetail (Oreostruthus fuliginosus) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mountain Firetail eat?
The Mountain Firetail is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Mountain Firetail migrate?
The Mountain Firetail is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Mountain Firetail 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 Mountain Firetail's range?
The Mountain Firetail has a mapped global range of about 51,000 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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