Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Silverbill
Euodice malabarica
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Euodice
- Species malabarica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Indian Silverbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Indian Silverbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India, Sri Lanka, also sc Asia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 5.2 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 3.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Silverbill?
The Indian Silverbill is a very small bird that weighs around 12 g.
Where does the Indian Silverbill live?
The Indian Silverbill is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India, Sri Lanka, also sc Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Indian Silverbill belong to?
The Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Indian Silverbill eat?
The Indian Silverbill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Indian Silverbill migrate?
The Indian Silverbill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Indian Silverbill 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 Indian Silverbill make?
1 real field recording of the Indian Silverbill — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Indian Silverbill's range?
The Indian Silverbill has a mapped global range of about 3.3 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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