Photo: David Dennis / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red Fody
Foudia madagascariensis
Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 16.6 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 Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Foudia
- Species madagascariensis
Where it lives
Madagascar; introduced (possibly naturally) widely elsewhere in region, including Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarenes
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red Fody is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red Fody is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis) is a species of bird in the Ploceidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Madagascar; introduced (possibly naturally) widely elsewhere in region, including Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarenes.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.3 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 591,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red Fody?
The Red Fody is a small bird that weighs around 16.6 g.
Where does the Red Fody live?
The Red Fody is found across Africa with a range covering AF Madagascar; introduced (possibly naturally) widely elsewhere in region, including Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarenes, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red Fody belong to?
The Red Fody (Foudia madagascariensis) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red Fody eat?
The Red Fody is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Red Fody migrate?
The Red Fody is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red Fody 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 Fody make?
1 real field recording of the Red Fody — 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 Red Fody's range?
The Red Fody has a mapped global range of about 591,000 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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