Photo: G E Lodge (died 1954) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey Wren-Warbler
Calamonastes simplex
Grey Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex) — 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 Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12 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 Cisticolidae Cisticolas & Allies
- Genus Calamonastes
- Species simplex
Where it lives
Ethiopia and Somalia to southeastern South Sudan, northeastern Uganda, Kenya and northeastern Tanzania
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Wren-Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey Wren-Warbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and Somalia to se South Sudan, ne Uganda, Kenya and ne Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Wren-Warbler?
The Grey Wren-Warbler is a very small bird that weighs around 12 g.
Where does the Grey Wren-Warbler live?
The Grey Wren-Warbler is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and Somalia to se South Sudan, ne Uganda, Kenya and ne Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey Wren-Warbler belong to?
The Grey Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes simplex) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey Wren-Warbler eat?
The Grey Wren-Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey Wren-Warbler migrate?
The Grey Wren-Warbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey Wren-Warbler 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 Wren-Warbler make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Wren-Warbler — 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 Wren-Warbler's range?
The Grey Wren-Warbler has a mapped global range of about 1.5 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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