Skip to main content
Near Threatened

Rufous-winged Illadopsis

Illadopsis rufescens

Rufous-winged Illadopsis (Illadopsis rufescens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis (Illadopsis rufescens) is a member of the Pellorneidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 37 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Pellorneidae Ground Babblers
  4. Genus Illadopsis
  5. Species rufescens

Where it lives

Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone to Togo

Quick facts

Weight
37 g
Family
Pellorneidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis (Illadopsis rufescens) is a member of the Pellorneidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone to Togo.

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 7 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 264,000 km².

Songs & calls

Rufous-winged Illadopsis — Song

Recorded by Marc Languy Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Rufous-winged Illadopsis?

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis is a small bird that weighs around 37 g.

Where does the Rufous-winged Illadopsis live?

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis is found across Africa with a range covering AF Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone to Togo, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Rufous-winged Illadopsis belong to?

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis (Illadopsis rufescens) belongs to the Pellorneidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Rufous-winged Illadopsis eat?

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Rufous-winged Illadopsis migrate?

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Rufous-winged Illadopsis endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

What sound does the Rufous-winged Illadopsis make?

1 real field recording of the Rufous-winged Illadopsis — 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 Rufous-winged Illadopsis's range?

The Rufous-winged Illadopsis has a mapped global range of about 264,000 km².

Conservation

Near Threatened

Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.

How to help birds

Explore more birds

More in Pellorneidae

More in Songbirds

Guides for this bird

Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds

How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.

4 min read

Back to top