Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-and-white Mannikin
Spermestes bicolor
Black-and-white Mannikin (Spermestes bicolor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-and-white Mannikin (Spermestes bicolor) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.9 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 Spermestes
- Species bicolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.9 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-and-white Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-and-white Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-and-white Mannikin (Spermestes bicolor) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sub-Saharan Africa.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.9 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 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 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-and-white Mannikin?
The Black-and-white Mannikin is a very small bird that weighs around 9.9 g.
Where does the Black-and-white Mannikin live?
The Black-and-white Mannikin is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-and-white Mannikin belong to?
The Black-and-white Mannikin (Spermestes bicolor) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-and-white Mannikin eat?
The Black-and-white Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-and-white Mannikin migrate?
The Black-and-white Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-and-white Mannikin 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 Black-and-white Mannikin make?
1 real field recording of the Black-and-white Mannikin — 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 Black-and-white Mannikin's range?
The Black-and-white Mannikin has a mapped global range of about 5.2 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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Guides for this bird
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