Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Jackson’s Widowbird
Euplectes jacksoni
Jackson's Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) — 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 Jackson’s Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 37 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 Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Euplectes
- Species jacksoni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Jackson’s Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Jackson’s Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Jackson’s Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c Kenya to n Tanzania.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 5.1 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 108,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Jackson’s Widowbird?
The Jackson’s Widowbird is a small bird that weighs around 37 g.
Where does the Jackson’s Widowbird live?
The Jackson’s Widowbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c Kenya to n Tanzania, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Jackson’s Widowbird belong to?
The Jackson’s Widowbird (Euplectes jacksoni) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Jackson’s Widowbird eat?
The Jackson’s Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Jackson’s Widowbird migrate?
The Jackson’s Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Jackson’s Widowbird 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 Jackson’s Widowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Jackson’s Widowbird — 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 Jackson’s Widowbird's range?
The Jackson’s Widowbird has a mapped global range of about 108,000 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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