Photo: Wilferd Duckitt from Darling, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Forest Canary
Crithagra scotops
Forest Canary (Crithagra scotops) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Forest Canary (Crithagra scotops) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.2 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 scotops
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.2 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Forest Canary 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 Forest Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Forest Canary (Crithagra scotops) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF South Africa.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 185,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Forest Canary?
The Forest Canary is a very small bird that weighs around 14.2 g.
Where does the Forest Canary live?
The Forest Canary is found across Africa with a range covering AF South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Forest Canary belong to?
The Forest Canary (Crithagra scotops) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Forest Canary eat?
The Forest Canary is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Forest Canary migrate?
The Forest Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Forest 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 Forest Canary make?
1 real field recording of the Forest Canary — 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 Forest Canary's range?
The Forest Canary has a mapped global range of about 185,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Fringillidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Extinct
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.