Photo: gisela gerson lohman-braun / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bronze Mannikin
Spermestes cucullata
Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9 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 Spermestes
- Species cucullata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bronze Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Bronze Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, e, s.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 3.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bronze Mannikin?
The Bronze Mannikin is a very small bird that weighs around 9 g.
Where does the Bronze Mannikin live?
The Bronze Mannikin is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, e, s, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Bronze Mannikin belong to?
The Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullata) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bronze Mannikin eat?
The Bronze Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Bronze Mannikin migrate?
The Bronze Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bronze Mannikin 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 Bronze Mannikin make?
1 real field recording of the Bronze Mannikin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bronze Mannikin's range?
The Bronze Mannikin has a mapped global range of about 8.7 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
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