Photo: Gustav Hartlaub / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-capped Speirops
Zosterops lugubris
Black-capped Speirops (Zosterops lugubris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Black-capped Speirops (Zosterops lugubris) is a member of the Zosteropidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.8 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 Zosteropidae White-eyes
- Genus Zosterops
- Species lugubris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.8 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Zosteropidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-capped Speirops is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-capped Speirops is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-capped Speirops (Zosterops lugubris) is a member of the Zosteropidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF São Tomé (sc Gulf of Guinea Is.).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 859 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-capped Speirops?
The Black-capped Speirops is a very small bird that weighs around 14.8 g.
Where does the Black-capped Speirops live?
The Black-capped Speirops is found across Africa with a range covering AF São Tomé (sc Gulf of Guinea Is.), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-capped Speirops belong to?
The Black-capped Speirops (Zosterops lugubris) belongs to the Zosteropidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-capped Speirops eat?
The Black-capped Speirops is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Black-capped Speirops migrate?
The Black-capped Speirops is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-capped Speirops 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 Black-capped Speirops make?
1 real field recording of the Black-capped Speirops — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-capped Speirops's range?
The Black-capped Speirops has a mapped global range of about 859 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 Zosteropidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.