Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Seedcracker
Pyrenestes ostrinus
Black-bellied Seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-bellied Seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 22.4 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Pyrenestes
- Species ostrinus
Where it lives
Ivory Coast to southern South Sudan and western Kenya and south to Zambia and northern Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied Seedcracker is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-bellied Seedcracker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-bellied Seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ivory Coast to s South Sudan and w Kenya and s to Zambia and n Angola.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.4 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.7 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Seedcracker?
The Black-bellied Seedcracker is a small bird that weighs around 22.4 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Seedcracker live?
The Black-bellied Seedcracker is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ivory Coast to s South Sudan and w Kenya and s to Zambia and n Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-bellied Seedcracker belong to?
The Black-bellied Seedcracker (Pyrenestes ostrinus) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-bellied Seedcracker eat?
The Black-bellied Seedcracker is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-bellied Seedcracker migrate?
The Black-bellied Seedcracker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-bellied Seedcracker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Black-bellied Seedcracker's range?
The Black-bellied Seedcracker has a mapped global range of about 4.7 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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