Photo: Tom Tarrant / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-headed Waxbill
Estrilda atricapilla
Black-headed Waxbill (Estrilda atricapilla) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Black-headed Waxbill (Estrilda atricapilla) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 7.8 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Estrilda
- Species atricapilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.8 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-headed Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-headed Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-headed Waxbill (Estrilda atricapilla) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 7.8 g, with a wing length of about 4.6 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 665,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-headed Waxbill?
The Black-headed Waxbill is a very small bird that weighs around 7.8 g.
Where does the Black-headed Waxbill live?
The Black-headed Waxbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-headed Waxbill belong to?
The Black-headed Waxbill (Estrilda atricapilla) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-headed Waxbill eat?
The Black-headed Waxbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-headed Waxbill migrate?
The Black-headed Waxbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-headed 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-headed Waxbill's range?
The Black-headed Waxbill has a mapped global range of about 665,000 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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