Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-headed Bluebill
Spermophaga ruficapilla
Red-headed Bluebill (Spermophaga ruficapilla) — 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 Red-headed Bluebill (Spermophaga ruficapilla) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 23.6 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 Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Spermophaga
- Species ruficapilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-headed Bluebill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Red-headed Bluebill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-headed Bluebill (Spermophaga ruficapilla) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, ec.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 23.6 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 5.7 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 563,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-headed Bluebill?
The Red-headed Bluebill is a small bird that weighs around 23.6 g.
Where does the Red-headed Bluebill live?
The Red-headed Bluebill is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, ec, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Red-headed Bluebill belong to?
The Red-headed Bluebill (Spermophaga ruficapilla) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Red-headed Bluebill eat?
The Red-headed Bluebill is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Red-headed Bluebill migrate?
The Red-headed Bluebill is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-headed Bluebill 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-headed Bluebill make?
1 real field recording of the Red-headed Bluebill — 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-headed Bluebill's range?
The Red-headed Bluebill has a mapped global range of about 563,000 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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