Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brown Twinspot
Clytospiza monteiri
Brown Twinspot (Clytospiza monteiri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brown Twinspot (Clytospiza monteiri) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.9 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 Clytospiza
- Species monteiri
Where it lives
Southeastern Nigeria and Cameroon to southern South Sudan and western Kenya, Gabon to western Angola and east to central DR Congo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.9 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brown Twinspot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Brown Twinspot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brown Twinspot (Clytospiza monteiri) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF se Nigeria and Cameroon to s South Sudan and w Kenya, Gabon to w Angola and e to c DR Congo.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 5.3 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 Brown Twinspot?
The Brown Twinspot is a very small bird that weighs around 14.9 g.
Where does the Brown Twinspot live?
The Brown Twinspot is found across Africa with a range covering AF se Nigeria and Cameroon to s South Sudan and w Kenya, Gabon to w Angola and e to c DR Congo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Brown Twinspot belong to?
The Brown Twinspot (Clytospiza monteiri) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Brown Twinspot eat?
The Brown Twinspot is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Brown Twinspot migrate?
The Brown Twinspot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brown Twinspot 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 Brown Twinspot's range?
The Brown Twinspot 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.
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Guides for this bird
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