Photo: Pius Mahimbi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-throated Canary
Crithagra atrogularis
Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 11.4 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 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Crithagra
- Species atrogularis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-throated Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-throated Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, s.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.1 cm and a tail of around 4.6 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 3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-throated Canary?
The Black-throated Canary is a very small bird that weighs around 11.4 g.
Where does the Black-throated Canary live?
The Black-throated Canary is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, s, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-throated Canary belong to?
The Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-throated Canary eat?
The Black-throated Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-throated Canary migrate?
The Black-throated Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-throated Canary 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-throated Canary make?
1 real field recording of the Black-throated Canary can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-throated Canary's range?
The Black-throated Canary has a mapped global range of about 3 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
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.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.