Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Euplectes axillaris
Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 25.1 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 Euplectes
- Species axillaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.1 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, e, se.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 25.1 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 6.5 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 2.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fan-tailed Widowbird?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is a small bird that weighs around 25.1 g.
Where does the Fan-tailed Widowbird live?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, e, se, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Fan-tailed Widowbird belong to?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fan-tailed Widowbird eat?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Fan-tailed Widowbird migrate?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Fan-tailed Widowbird 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 Fan-tailed Widowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Fan-tailed Widowbird — 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 Fan-tailed Widowbird's range?
The Fan-tailed Widowbird has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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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