Photo: Francesco Veronesi / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pygmy Batis
Batis perkeo
Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) — 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 Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) is a member of the Platysteiridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 6.9 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 Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes, Batises
- Genus Batis
- Species perkeo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Platysteiridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pygmy Batis 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 Pygmy Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) is a member of the Platysteiridae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF se South Sudan, s Ethiopia and Somalia to n Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 3.4 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 949,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pygmy Batis?
The Pygmy Batis is a very small bird that weighs around 6.9 g.
Where does the Pygmy Batis live?
The Pygmy Batis is found across Africa with a range covering AF se South Sudan, s Ethiopia and Somalia to n Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Pygmy Batis belong to?
The Pygmy Batis (Batis perkeo) belongs to the Platysteiridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Pygmy Batis eat?
The Pygmy Batis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Pygmy Batis migrate?
The Pygmy Batis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pygmy Batis 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 Pygmy Batis make?
1 real field recording of the Pygmy Batis — 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 Pygmy Batis's range?
The Pygmy Batis has a mapped global range of about 949,000 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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