Photo: Derek Keats / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-faced Mousebird
Urocolius indicus
Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus) — Unusual & Unique 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 Mousebird (Urocolius indicus) is a member of the Coliidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 52.7 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 Coliiformes
- Family Coliidae Mousebirds
- Genus Urocolius
- Species indicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52.7 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Coliidae
- Order
- Coliiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-faced Mousebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-faced Mousebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus) is a member of the Coliidae family, within the order Coliiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.5 cm and a tail of around 21 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 3.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-faced Mousebird?
The Red-faced Mousebird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52.7 g.
Where does the Red-faced Mousebird live?
The Red-faced Mousebird is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-faced Mousebird belong to?
The Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus) belongs to the Coliidae family, in the order Coliiformes.
What does the Red-faced Mousebird eat?
The Red-faced Mousebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Red-faced Mousebird migrate?
The Red-faced Mousebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-faced Mousebird 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 Mousebird make?
1 real field recording of the Red-faced Mousebird — 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 Mousebird's range?
The Red-faced Mousebird has a mapped global range of about 3.5 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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