Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Purple Grenadier
Granatina ianthinogaster
Purple Grenadier (Granatina ianthinogaster) — 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 Purple Grenadier (Granatina ianthinogaster) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 14.1 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Granatina
- Species ianthinogaster
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.1 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Purple Grenadier is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Purple Grenadier is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Purple Grenadier (Granatina ianthinogaster) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and Somalia to c Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 6.3 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 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Purple Grenadier?
The Purple Grenadier is a very small bird that weighs around 14.1 g.
Where does the Purple Grenadier live?
The Purple Grenadier is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and Somalia to c Tanzania, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Purple Grenadier belong to?
The Purple Grenadier (Granatina ianthinogaster) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Purple Grenadier eat?
The Purple Grenadier is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Purple Grenadier migrate?
The Purple Grenadier is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Purple Grenadier 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 Purple Grenadier make?
1 real field recording of the Purple Grenadier — 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 Purple Grenadier's range?
The Purple Grenadier has a mapped global range of about 1.5 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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