Photo: Lodewijk Nell, FGASA Level 1 Field Guide / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Finfoot
Podica senegalensis
African Finfoot (Podica senegalensis) — Cranes & Rails of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Finfoot (Podica senegalensis) is a member of the Heliornithidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 599 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 Gruiformes
- Family Heliornithidae Finfoots
- Genus Podica
- Species senegalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 599 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Heliornithidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African Finfoot hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The African Finfoot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The African Finfoot (Podica senegalensis) is a member of the Heliornithidae family, within the order Gruiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 599 g, with a wing length of about 18.6 cm and a tail of around 12.5 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 11.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Finfoot?
The African Finfoot is a large bird that weighs around 599 g.
Where does the African Finfoot live?
The African Finfoot is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the African Finfoot belong to?
The African Finfoot (Podica senegalensis) belongs to the Heliornithidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the African Finfoot eat?
The African Finfoot hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the African Finfoot migrate?
The African Finfoot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the African Finfoot 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 Finfoot make?
1 real field recording of the African Finfoot — 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 Finfoot's range?
The African Finfoot has a mapped global range of about 11.4 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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