Photo: Henrik Gronvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Green Twinspot
Mandingoa nitidula
Green Twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Green Twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.6 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 Mandingoa
- Species nitidula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Green Twinspot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Green Twinspot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Green Twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) 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, se.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Green Twinspot?
The Green Twinspot is a very small bird that weighs around 9.6 g.
Where does the Green Twinspot live?
The Green Twinspot is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, e, se, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Green Twinspot belong to?
The Green Twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Green Twinspot eat?
The Green Twinspot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Green Twinspot migrate?
The Green Twinspot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Green Twinspot 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 Green Twinspot make?
1 real field recording of the Green Twinspot — 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 Green Twinspot's range?
The Green Twinspot has a mapped global range of about 1.5 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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