Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Shelley’s Oliveback
Nesocharis shelleyi
Shelley's Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Shelley’s Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7.6 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 Nesocharis
- Species shelleyi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.6 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shelley’s Oliveback is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Shelley’s Oliveback is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Shelley’s Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.6 g, with a wing length of about 4.3 cm and a tail of around 2.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 31,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shelley’s Oliveback?
The Shelley’s Oliveback is a very small bird that weighs around 7.6 g.
Where does the Shelley’s Oliveback live?
The Shelley’s Oliveback is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Shelley’s Oliveback belong to?
The Shelley’s Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Shelley’s Oliveback eat?
The Shelley’s Oliveback is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Shelley’s Oliveback migrate?
The Shelley’s Oliveback is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Shelley’s Oliveback 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 Shelley’s Oliveback make?
1 real field recording of the Shelley’s Oliveback — 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 Shelley’s Oliveback's range?
The Shelley’s Oliveback has a mapped global range of about 31,000 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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