Spermestes griseicapilla
The Grey-headed Silverbill, *Spermestes griseicapilla*, is a captivating small estrildid finch renowned for its striking bicolored plumage. Adults measure approximately 10-11 cm in length and weigh around 9-12 grams, characterized by a distinctive pale grey head contrasting sharply with a glossy black body, wings, and tail. Its most notable field mark is the stout, silvery-grey bill, often appearing bicolored with a paler upper mandible and darker lower one, giving the species its common name...
Found primarily in dry savannas, thornbush, acacia woodlands, and various grasslands, often near water sources. It thrives in open, disturbed areas and cultivated land, typically at elevations ranging from lowlands up to 2000 meters.
Mainly granivorous, feeding primarily on small grass seeds and the seeds of other herbaceous plants. It supplements its diet with small insects and other plant matter, foraging predominantly on the ground or directly from seed heads.
A highly gregarious species, the Grey-headed Silverbill is typically observed foraging in small groups or large flocks of up to several hundred individuals, often mixing with other estrildid finches. They are diurnal, spending much of the day on the ground or perched on grass stalks, diligently g...
The Grey-headed Silverbill has a broad, though somewhat patchy, distribution across East and Central Africa. Its range extends from southeastern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia southwards through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Further south, it is found in much of Tanzania, extending into the s...
Least Concern
- Its former genus name *Odontospiza* translates to 'toothed finch,' referring to fine serrations on its bill which aid in husking seeds. - The striking contrast of its grey head against a glossy black body makes it one of the most distinctly patterned silverbills in Africa. - Often forms large, ...