Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Thick-billed Seedeater
Crithagra burtoni
Thick-billed Seedeater (Crithagra burtoni) — 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 Thick-billed Seedeater (Crithagra burtoni) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 30.5 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 burtoni
Quick facts
- Weight
- 30.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Thick-billed Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Thick-billed Seedeater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Thick-billed Seedeater (Crithagra burtoni) is a member of the Fringillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, ec.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 30.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 6.8 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 401,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Thick-billed Seedeater?
The Thick-billed Seedeater is a small bird that weighs around 30.5 g.
Where does the Thick-billed Seedeater live?
The Thick-billed Seedeater is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, ec, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Thick-billed Seedeater belong to?
The Thick-billed Seedeater (Crithagra burtoni) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Thick-billed Seedeater eat?
The Thick-billed Seedeater is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Thick-billed Seedeater migrate?
The Thick-billed Seedeater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Thick-billed Seedeater 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 Thick-billed Seedeater make?
1 real field recording of the Thick-billed Seedeater — 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 Thick-billed Seedeater's range?
The Thick-billed Seedeater has a mapped global range of about 401,000 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.