Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Crested Malimbe
Malimbus malimbicus
Crested Malimbe (Malimbus malimbicus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Crested Malimbe (Malimbus malimbicus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 36.1 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 malimbicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 36.1 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 Crested 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 Crested Malimbe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crested Malimbe (Malimbus malimbicus) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 36.1 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 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 2.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crested Malimbe?
The Crested Malimbe is a small bird that weighs around 36.1 g.
Where does the Crested Malimbe live?
The Crested Malimbe is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Crested Malimbe belong to?
The Crested Malimbe (Malimbus malimbicus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Crested Malimbe eat?
The Crested Malimbe is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Crested Malimbe migrate?
The Crested Malimbe is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crested 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 Crested Malimbe make?
1 real field recording of the Crested 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 Crested Malimbe's range?
The Crested Malimbe has a mapped global range of about 2.5 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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