Photo: Zieger M / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Gabela Akalat
Sheppardia gabela
Gabela Akalat (Sheppardia gabela) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Gabela Akalat (Sheppardia gabela) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 11 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Sheppardia
- Species gabela
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gabela Akalat 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 Gabela Akalat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Gabela Akalat (Sheppardia gabela) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Angola.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 958 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gabela Akalat?
The Gabela Akalat is a very small bird that weighs around 11 g.
Where does the Gabela Akalat live?
The Gabela Akalat is found across Africa with a range covering AF Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Gabela Akalat belong to?
The Gabela Akalat (Sheppardia gabela) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Gabela Akalat eat?
The Gabela Akalat is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Gabela Akalat migrate?
The Gabela Akalat is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Gabela Akalat endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Gabela Akalat make?
1 real field recording of the Gabela Akalat — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Gabela Akalat's range?
The Gabela Akalat has a mapped global range of about 958 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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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Muscicapidae
A field guide to the Muscicapidae family — 355 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.