Quelea quelea
The Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) is a small passerine bird, renowned for being the most abundant wild bird species on Earth. Measuring approximately 12.5 cm (5 inches) in length and weighing 15-20 grams, it exhibits striking sexual dimorphism, particularly during the breeding season. Breeding males boast a vibrant red bill, a prominent black facial mask, and body plumage varying from pinkish-red to yellow, depending on the subspecies, often with a yellow nape. Females and non-breeding ma...
Found primarily in arid and semi-arid savanna grasslands, thornbush, and scrublands across sub-Saharan Africa, often utilizing cultivated cereal crops. It thrives from sea level up to around 1,500 meters.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on grass seeds from both wild and cultivated varieties, supplemented with insects (especially caterpillars and termites) during the breeding season.
Red-billed Queleas are highly gregarious, forming colossal flocks that can number in the millions, especially when foraging or roosting. Their daily activity centers on synchronized foraging in open areas, moving rapidly across the ground to consume seeds. Roosting occurs communally in dense vege...
The Red-billed Quelea is widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring from Senegal and Mauritania east to Sudan and Eritrea, and south to South Africa. Its vast distribution covers nearly all suitable savanna and grassland habitats. It is largely resident in many areas but undertakes exten...
Least Concern
- The Red-billed Quelea is widely considered the most abundant wild bird species on Earth, with populations estimated in the hundreds of millions, possibly billions. - A single quelea flock can contain millions of birds, darkening the sky and covering many square kilometers. - They are known as '...