Photo: Mientjie / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-headed Nigrita
Nigrita canicapillus
Grey-headed Nigrita (Nigrita canicapillus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-headed Nigrita (Nigrita canicapillus) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 18.7 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Nigrita
- Species canicapillus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-headed Nigrita 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 Grey-headed Nigrita is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-headed Nigrita (Nigrita canicapillus) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.7 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-headed Nigrita?
The Grey-headed Nigrita is a small bird that weighs around 18.7 g.
Where does the Grey-headed Nigrita live?
The Grey-headed Nigrita is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey-headed Nigrita belong to?
The Grey-headed Nigrita (Nigrita canicapillus) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-headed Nigrita eat?
The Grey-headed Nigrita is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey-headed Nigrita migrate?
The Grey-headed Nigrita is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-headed Nigrita 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 Nigrita make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-headed Nigrita — 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 Nigrita's range?
The Grey-headed Nigrita has a mapped global range of about 3.8 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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