Photo: Ben Phalan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sierra Leone Prinia
Schistolais leontica
Sierra Leone Prinia (Schistolais leontica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Sierra Leone Prinia (Schistolais leontica) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 12.4 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 Cisticolidae Cisticolas & Allies
- Genus Schistolais
- Species leontica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sierra Leone Prinia is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Sierra Leone Prinia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sierra Leone Prinia (Schistolais leontica) is a member of the Cisticolidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.4 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 cm and a tail of around 5.2 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 17,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sierra Leone Prinia?
The Sierra Leone Prinia is a very small bird that weighs around 12.4 g.
Where does the Sierra Leone Prinia live?
The Sierra Leone Prinia is found across Africa with a range covering AF Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Sierra Leone Prinia belong to?
The Sierra Leone Prinia (Schistolais leontica) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sierra Leone Prinia eat?
The Sierra Leone Prinia is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Sierra Leone Prinia migrate?
The Sierra Leone Prinia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sierra Leone Prinia 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.
How large is the Sierra Leone Prinia's range?
The Sierra Leone Prinia has a mapped global range of about 17,000 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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