Photo: KrisMaes / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-headed Batis
Batis orientalis
Grey-headed Batis (Batis orientalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-headed Batis (Batis orientalis) is a member of the Platysteiridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 11.1 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 Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes, Batises
- Genus Batis
- Species orientalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Platysteiridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-headed Batis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey-headed Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-headed Batis (Batis orientalis) is a member of the Platysteiridae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, ne.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.7 cm and a tail of around 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 2.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-headed Batis?
The Grey-headed Batis is a very small bird that weighs around 11.1 g.
Where does the Grey-headed Batis live?
The Grey-headed Batis is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, ne, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey-headed Batis belong to?
The Grey-headed Batis (Batis orientalis) belongs to the Platysteiridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-headed Batis eat?
The Grey-headed Batis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey-headed Batis migrate?
The Grey-headed Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-headed Batis 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 Grey-headed Batis make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-headed Batis — 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 Grey-headed Batis's range?
The Grey-headed Batis has a mapped global range of about 2.7 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.
Explore more birds
More in Platysteiridae
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
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.