Photo: Tom Tarrant / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-crowned Waxbill
Estrilda nonnula
Black-crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) — 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-crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7.7 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 Estrilda
- Species nonnula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.7 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-crowned Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-crowned Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.7 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 1.2 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-crowned Waxbill?
The Black-crowned Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 7.7 g.
Where does the Black-crowned Waxbill live?
The Black-crowned Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-crowned Waxbill belong to?
The Black-crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-crowned Waxbill eat?
The Black-crowned Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-crowned Waxbill migrate?
The Black-crowned Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-crowned Waxbill 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-crowned Waxbill's range?
The Black-crowned Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 1.2 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.
Explore more birds
More in Estrildidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
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.