Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Cassin’s Malimbe
Malimbus cassini
Cassin's Malimbe (Malimbus cassini) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Cassin’s Malimbe (Malimbus cassini) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 35 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 cassini
Quick facts
- Weight
- 35 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cassin’s 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 Cassin’s Malimbe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Cassin’s Malimbe (Malimbus cassini) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Cameroon to w, e DR Congo.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 35 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 5.4 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 941,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cassin’s Malimbe?
The Cassin’s Malimbe is a small bird that weighs around 35 g.
Where does the Cassin’s Malimbe live?
The Cassin’s Malimbe is found across Africa with a range covering AF Cameroon to w, e DR Congo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Cassin’s Malimbe belong to?
The Cassin’s Malimbe (Malimbus cassini) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cassin’s Malimbe eat?
The Cassin’s Malimbe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Cassin’s Malimbe migrate?
The Cassin’s Malimbe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Cassin’s 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 Cassin’s Malimbe make?
1 real field recording of the Cassin’s Malimbe — 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 Cassin’s Malimbe's range?
The Cassin’s Malimbe has a mapped global range of about 941,000 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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