Photo: Bettina Arrigoni / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Silverbill
Euodice cantans
African Silverbill (Euodice cantans) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Silverbill (Euodice cantans) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12 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 Euodice
- Species cantans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Silverbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The African Silverbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Silverbill (Euodice cantans) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, e, also sw Arabian Pen.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Silverbill?
The African Silverbill is a very small bird that weighs around 12 g.
Where does the African Silverbill live?
The African Silverbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, e, also sw Arabian Pen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the African Silverbill belong to?
The African Silverbill (Euodice cantans) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the African Silverbill eat?
The African Silverbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the African Silverbill migrate?
The African Silverbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Silverbill 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 African Silverbill make?
1 real field recording of the African Silverbill — 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 African Silverbill's range?
The African Silverbill has a mapped global range of about 3.8 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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