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Photo: Nigel Voaden / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Appert’s Tetraka

Xanthomixis apperti

Appert's Tetraka (Xanthomixis apperti) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

The Appert’s Tetraka (Xanthomixis apperti) is a member of the Bernieridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Bernieridae Tetrakas & Allies
  4. Genus Xanthomixis
  5. Species apperti

Where it lives

Southwestern Madagascar

Quick facts

Weight
14.6 g
Family
Bernieridae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Appert’s Tetraka is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Appert’s Tetraka is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Appert’s Tetraka (Xanthomixis apperti) is a member of the Bernieridae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw Madagascar.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1,496 km² — a relatively restricted global range.

Songs & calls

Appert’s Tetraka — Call, song

Recorded by Dries Van de Loock Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Appert’s Tetraka?

The Appert’s Tetraka is a very small bird that weighs around 14.6 g.

Where does the Appert’s Tetraka live?

The Appert’s Tetraka is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Appert’s Tetraka belong to?

The Appert’s Tetraka (Xanthomixis apperti) belongs to the Bernieridae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Appert’s Tetraka eat?

The Appert’s Tetraka is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Appert’s Tetraka migrate?

The Appert’s Tetraka is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Appert’s Tetraka endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Appert’s Tetraka make?

1 real field recording of the Appert’s Tetraka — 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 Appert’s Tetraka's range?

The Appert’s Tetraka has a mapped global range of about 1,496 km².

Conservation

Vulnerable

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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