Photo: Renke Rommerskirchen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-winged Widowbird
Euplectes albonotatus
White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.1 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 Euplectes
- Species albonotatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.1 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-winged Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-winged Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) is a member of the Ploceidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc, e, sc.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 6.3 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 2.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-winged Widowbird?
The White-winged Widowbird is a small bird that weighs around 21.1 g.
Where does the White-winged Widowbird live?
The White-winged Widowbird is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc, e, sc, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-winged Widowbird belong to?
The White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-winged Widowbird eat?
The White-winged Widowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the White-winged Widowbird migrate?
The White-winged Widowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-winged Widowbird 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 White-winged Widowbird make?
1 real field recording of the White-winged Widowbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-winged Widowbird's range?
The White-winged Widowbird has a mapped global range of about 2.6 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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