Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Papyrus Canary
Crithagra koliensis
Papyrus Canary (Crithagra koliensis) — 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 Papyrus Canary (Crithagra koliensis) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.6 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 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Crithagra
- Species koliensis
Where it lives
Central Uganda to eastern DR Congo, Burundi, northwestern Tanzania and western Kenya
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Papyrus Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Papyrus Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Papyrus Canary (Crithagra koliensis) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c Uganda to e DR Congo, Burundi, nw Tanzania and w Kenya.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 55,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Papyrus Canary?
The Papyrus Canary is a very small bird that weighs around 13.6 g.
Where does the Papyrus Canary live?
The Papyrus Canary is found across Africa with a range covering AF c Uganda to e DR Congo, Burundi, nw Tanzania and w Kenya, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Papyrus Canary belong to?
The Papyrus Canary (Crithagra koliensis) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Papyrus Canary eat?
The Papyrus Canary is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Papyrus Canary migrate?
The Papyrus Canary is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Papyrus Canary 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 Papyrus Canary make?
1 real field recording of the Papyrus Canary — 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 Papyrus Canary's range?
The Papyrus Canary has a mapped global range of about 55,000 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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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.