Photo: DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Citril
Crithagra hyposticta
Southern Citril (Crithagra hyposticta) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Citril (Crithagra hyposticta) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13 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 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Crithagra
- Species hyposticta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Citril is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Southern Citril is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Citril (Crithagra hyposticta) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, se.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13 g, with a wing length of about 6.4 cm and a tail of around 4.8 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 161,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Citril?
The Southern Citril is a very small bird that weighs around 13 g.
Where does the Southern Citril live?
The Southern Citril is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, se, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Southern Citril belong to?
The Southern Citril (Crithagra hyposticta) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Citril eat?
The Southern Citril is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Southern Citril migrate?
The Southern Citril is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Citril 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 Southern Citril make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Citril can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Citril's range?
The Southern Citril has a mapped global range of about 161,000 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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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.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.