Photo: ChriKo / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Piapiac
Ptilostomus afer
Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 128 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 Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Ptilostomus
- Species afer
Quick facts
- Weight
- 128 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Piapiac is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Piapiac is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to s Ethiopia, w Kenya and Uganda.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 128 g, with a wing length of about 16.5 cm and a tail of around 25.8 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 3.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Piapiac?
The Piapiac is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 128 g.
Where does the Piapiac live?
The Piapiac is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to s Ethiopia, w Kenya and Uganda, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Piapiac belong to?
The Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Piapiac eat?
The Piapiac is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Piapiac migrate?
The Piapiac is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Piapiac 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 Piapiac make?
1 real field recording of the Piapiac — 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 Piapiac's range?
The Piapiac has a mapped global range of about 3.8 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
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.