Orange-winged Pytilia
Pytilia afra
Orange-winged Pytilia (Pytilia afra) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Orange-winged Pytilia (Pytilia afra) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 16.6 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 Pytilia
- Species afra
Where it lives
Southern South Sudan and Ethiopia south to northeastern South Africa and west to southern PR Congo and western Angola
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Orange-winged Pytilia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Orange-winged Pytilia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Orange-winged Pytilia (Pytilia afra) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s South Sudan and Ethiopia s to ne South Africa and w to s PR Congo and w Angola.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 3.5 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 3.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Orange-winged Pytilia?
The Orange-winged Pytilia is a small bird that weighs around 16.6 g.
Where does the Orange-winged Pytilia live?
The Orange-winged Pytilia is found across Africa with a range covering AF s South Sudan and Ethiopia s to ne South Africa and w to s PR Congo and w Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Orange-winged Pytilia belong to?
The Orange-winged Pytilia (Pytilia afra) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Orange-winged Pytilia eat?
The Orange-winged Pytilia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Orange-winged Pytilia migrate?
The Orange-winged Pytilia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Orange-winged Pytilia 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 Orange-winged Pytilia make?
1 real field recording of the Orange-winged Pytilia — 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 Orange-winged Pytilia's range?
The Orange-winged Pytilia has a mapped global range of about 3.4 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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