Photo: TonyCastro / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sharpe’s Longclaw
Macronyx sharpei
Sharpe's Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) — 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 Sharpe’s Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) is a member of the Motacillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 29.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits
- Genus Macronyx
- Species sharpei
Quick facts
- Weight
- 29.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Motacillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sharpe’s Longclaw is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Sharpe’s Longclaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sharpe’s Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) is a member of the Motacillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w Kenya.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 29.9 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1,871 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sharpe’s Longclaw?
The Sharpe’s Longclaw is a small bird that weighs around 29.9 g.
Where does the Sharpe’s Longclaw live?
The Sharpe’s Longclaw is found across Africa with a range covering AF w Kenya, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sharpe’s Longclaw belong to?
The Sharpe’s Longclaw (Macronyx sharpei) belongs to the Motacillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sharpe’s Longclaw eat?
The Sharpe’s Longclaw is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sharpe’s Longclaw migrate?
The Sharpe’s Longclaw is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sharpe’s Longclaw endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Sharpe’s Longclaw make?
1 real field recording of the Sharpe’s Longclaw — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sharpe’s Longclaw's range?
The Sharpe’s Longclaw has a mapped global range of about 1,871 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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