Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Blue-billed Malimbe
Malimbus nitens
Blue-billed Malimbe (Malimbus nitens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Blue-billed Malimbe (Malimbus nitens) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 37.8 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 Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Malimbus
- Species nitens
Where it lives
Senegal and Gambia to Liberia and east to Uganda and eastern DR Congo south to northern Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-billed Malimbe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Blue-billed Malimbe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue-billed Malimbe (Malimbus nitens) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Liberia and e to Uganda and e DR Congo s to n Angola.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37.8 g, with a wing length of about 8.4 cm and a tail of around 5.5 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 2.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-billed Malimbe?
The Blue-billed Malimbe is a small bird that weighs around 37.8 g.
Where does the Blue-billed Malimbe live?
The Blue-billed Malimbe is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Liberia and e to Uganda and e DR Congo s to n Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Blue-billed Malimbe belong to?
The Blue-billed Malimbe (Malimbus nitens) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Blue-billed Malimbe eat?
The Blue-billed Malimbe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Blue-billed Malimbe migrate?
The Blue-billed Malimbe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue-billed Malimbe 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 Blue-billed Malimbe make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-billed Malimbe can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue-billed Malimbe's range?
The Blue-billed Malimbe has a mapped global range of about 2.6 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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