Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scaly-feathered Weaver
Sporopipes squamifrons
Scaly-feathered Weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scaly-feathered Weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12.3 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 Sporopipes
- Species squamifrons
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Scaly-feathered Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Scaly-feathered Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scaly-feathered Weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.3 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 4.3 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scaly-feathered Weaver?
The Scaly-feathered Weaver is a very small bird that weighs around 12.3 g.
Where does the Scaly-feathered Weaver live?
The Scaly-feathered Weaver is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Scaly-feathered Weaver belong to?
The Scaly-feathered Weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Scaly-feathered Weaver eat?
The Scaly-feathered Weaver is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Scaly-feathered Weaver migrate?
The Scaly-feathered Weaver is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scaly-feathered Weaver 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 Scaly-feathered Weaver make?
1 real field recording of the Scaly-feathered Weaver can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Scaly-feathered Weaver's range?
The Scaly-feathered Weaver has a mapped global range of about 1.9 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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Guides for this bird
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