Photo: terathopius / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cuckoo-finch
Anomalospiza imberbis
Cuckoo-finch (Anomalospiza imberbis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cuckoo-finch (Anomalospiza imberbis) is a member of the Viduidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 20.5 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 Viduidae Indigobirds, Whydahs
- Genus Anomalospiza
- Species imberbis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Viduidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cuckoo-finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Cuckoo-finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Cuckoo-finch (Anomalospiza imberbis) is a member of the Viduidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone and s Mali to Ethiopia and s to e South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.4 cm and a tail of around 4.3 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 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cuckoo-finch?
The Cuckoo-finch is a small bird that weighs around 20.5 g.
Where does the Cuckoo-finch live?
The Cuckoo-finch is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone and s Mali to Ethiopia and s to e South Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Cuckoo-finch belong to?
The Cuckoo-finch (Anomalospiza imberbis) belongs to the Viduidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cuckoo-finch eat?
The Cuckoo-finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Cuckoo-finch migrate?
The Cuckoo-finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Cuckoo-finch 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 Cuckoo-finch make?
1 real field recording of the Cuckoo-finch — 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 Cuckoo-finch's range?
The Cuckoo-finch has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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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