Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-headed Silverbill
Spermestes griseicapilla
Grey-headed Silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla) — 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 Silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 15 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Spermestes
- Species griseicapilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-headed Silverbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Grey-headed Silverbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-headed Silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s South Sudan and s Ethiopia to c Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 15 g, with a wing length of about 6 cm and a tail of around 4.7 cm.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-headed Silverbill?
The Grey-headed Silverbill is a very small bird that weighs around 15 g.
Where does the Grey-headed Silverbill live?
The Grey-headed Silverbill is found across Africa with a range covering AF s South Sudan and s Ethiopia to c Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey-headed Silverbill belong to?
The Grey-headed Silverbill (Spermestes griseicapilla) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-headed Silverbill eat?
The Grey-headed Silverbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Grey-headed Silverbill migrate?
The Grey-headed Silverbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
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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