Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Crombec
Sylvietta brachyura
Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) is a member of the Macrosphenidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 8.1 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 Macrosphenidae Crombecs, African Warblers
- Genus Sylvietta
- Species brachyura
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Macrosphenidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Northern Crombec is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Northern Crombec is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) belongs to the Macrosphenidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, c, w.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 2.2 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 5.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Northern Crombec?
The Northern Crombec is a very small bird that weighs around 8.1 g.
Where does the Northern Crombec live?
The Northern Crombec is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, c, w, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Northern Crombec belong to?
The Northern Crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) belongs to the Macrosphenidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Northern Crombec eat?
The Northern Crombec is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Northern Crombec migrate?
The Northern Crombec is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Northern Crombec 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 Northern Crombec make?
1 real field recording of the Northern Crombec — 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 Northern Crombec's range?
The Northern Crombec has a mapped global range of about 5.9 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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