Photo: Andrew Smith / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
African Broadbill
Smithornis capensis
African Broadbill (Smithornis capensis) — 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 African Broadbill (Smithornis capensis) is a member of the Calyptomenidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 23.2 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 Calyptomenidae African & Green Broadbills
- Genus Smithornis
- Species capensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Calyptomenidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Broadbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The African Broadbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Broadbill (Smithornis capensis) is a species of bird in the Calyptomenidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.2 g, with a wing length of about 7 cm and a tail of around 5.1 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 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Broadbill?
The African Broadbill is a small bird that weighs around 23.2 g.
Where does the African Broadbill live?
The African Broadbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the African Broadbill belong to?
The African Broadbill (Smithornis capensis) belongs to the Calyptomenidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the African Broadbill eat?
The African Broadbill is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the African Broadbill migrate?
The African Broadbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Broadbill 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 African Broadbill make?
1 real field recording of the African Broadbill — 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 African Broadbill's range?
The African Broadbill has a mapped global range of about 3.8 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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