Photo: Matt Muir / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-faced Canary
Crithagra capistrata
Black-faced Canary (Crithagra capistrata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Black-faced Canary (Crithagra capistrata) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.6 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 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Crithagra
- Species capistrata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-faced Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-faced Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-faced Canary (Crithagra capistrata) is a member of the Fringillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.1 cm and a tail of around 4.2 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 657,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-faced Canary?
The Black-faced Canary is a very small bird that weighs around 13.6 g.
Where does the Black-faced Canary live?
The Black-faced Canary is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-faced Canary belong to?
The Black-faced Canary (Crithagra capistrata) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-faced Canary eat?
The Black-faced Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-faced Canary migrate?
The Black-faced Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-faced Canary 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-faced Canary make?
1 real field recording of the Black-faced Canary — 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-faced Canary's range?
The Black-faced Canary has a mapped global range of about 657,000 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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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.