Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-faced Crimsonwing
Cryptospiza reichenovii
Red-faced Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza reichenovii) — 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 Red-faced Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza reichenovii) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12.4 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 Cryptospiza
- Species reichenovii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-faced Crimsonwing is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Red-faced Crimsonwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-faced Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza reichenovii) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc, c, se.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.4 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 cm and a tail of around 4.1 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 436,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-faced Crimsonwing?
The Red-faced Crimsonwing is a very small bird that weighs around 12.4 g.
Where does the Red-faced Crimsonwing live?
The Red-faced Crimsonwing is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc, c, se, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-faced Crimsonwing belong to?
The Red-faced Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza reichenovii) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-faced Crimsonwing eat?
The Red-faced Crimsonwing is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Red-faced Crimsonwing migrate?
The Red-faced Crimsonwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-faced Crimsonwing 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 Red-faced Crimsonwing make?
1 real field recording of the Red-faced Crimsonwing — 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 Red-faced Crimsonwing's range?
The Red-faced Crimsonwing has a mapped global range of about 436,000 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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