Photo: Jan Axel / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sapayoa
Sapayoa aenigma
Sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma) is a member of the Sapayoidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 20.8 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 Sapayoidae Sapayoa
- Genus Sapayoa
- Species aenigma
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Sapayoidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sapayoa is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Sapayoa is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma) is a species of bird in the Sapayoidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Panama to nw Ecuador.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.8 g, with a wing length of about 8 cm and a tail of around 6.2 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 103,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sapayoa?
The Sapayoa is a small bird that weighs around 20.8 g.
Where does the Sapayoa live?
The Sapayoa is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Panama to nw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Sapayoa belong to?
The Sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma) belongs to the Sapayoidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sapayoa eat?
The Sapayoa is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Sapayoa migrate?
The Sapayoa is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sapayoa 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 Sapayoa make?
1 real field recording of the Sapayoa — 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 Sapayoa's range?
The Sapayoa has a mapped global range of about 103,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Songbirds
Not Evaluated
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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.