Mousebird Species size and weights, and ranges of dstribution and habitats
The length and weights of a mousebird vary between individual birds. The info shown below shows the averages from recently weaned to adult ages. I’ve also noticed that the males, especially with the white-backed, will be heavier than the females.
White-backed:
Average length: 11.4 to 13 inches
Weight range: 38 to 64 grams
Range of White-Backed: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa They can be found in areas that are very arid desert areas ,scrubland, thornveld, woody and bushy habitats, gardens, farms and orchards. White-backed generally prefer the area around rivers running through sparse woodland. White-backed can also be found in farmyards, gardens and orchards. In the Western Cape it is also common in Port Jackson willow (Acacia saligna) and Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) thickets.
Red-faced:
Average length: 11.4 to 14.3 inces
Weight range: 45.1 to 65.9 grams
Range of Red-Faced: Southern Angola, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozabique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, to Southern Africa where it is common in non-arid areas, dry woodlands and avoid barren deserts. They prefer habitats such as oasis with palms, Acacia savanna and thickets, gardens, woodland with nearby rivers, strandveld, gardens and orchards. They are the only mousebird species that migrate from the inland to the coast in the winter.
Blue-naped:
Average length: 12.6 to 15.7 inches
Weight range: 34 to 62 grams
Range of Blue-Naped: Mauritania, Mali, Senegambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Sudan to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, Zaire, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. Their range extends across the widest section of the continent, and will sometimes overlap with the White-Headed and Speckled ranges. They prefer open, semi-aid woods with thorny vegetation near rivers and streams, near villages, farms, and near man-made wells.
Speckled:
Average length: 10.2 to 14.2 inches
Weight range: 36 to 89 grams
Range of Speckled: There are 17 (possibly 19) subspecies of Speckled that range throughout Africa. In areas of Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Central African Republic, SE Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa. Speckled are very adaptable, occurring in forest edges, thickets, gardens, orchards, villages, strandveld, riverine woodland and alien tree plantations. Speckled can endure a wide range of temperatures. From emails from South Africa, I’ve noticed that the Speckled are darker than the ones found farther north.
White-headed:
Average length: 11.4 to 13 inches
Weight range: 28 to 42 grams
Range of White-headed:Ethiopia, Southern Somalia, North, East and Southern areas of Kenya, Tanzania. They range from sea level, to 1300 meters on Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. They prefer dry, arid and semi-arid regions, and often frequent water sources, evergreen bushes, and trees.
Red-backed:
Average length: 11.4 to 15 inches
Weight range: 39 to 82 grams
Range of Red-Backed: have the smallest range of distribution inhabiting areas between the Speckled and White-backed ranges. Also called Chestnut-backed mousebirds live in the region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo River, and Angola. Sparsely treed savannas and woodlands are preferred as habitats
White-backed:
Average length: 11.4 to 13 inches
Weight range: 38 to 64 grams
Range of White-Backed: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa They can be found in areas that are very arid desert areas ,scrubland, thornveld, woody and bushy habitats, gardens, farms and orchards. White-backed generally prefer the area around rivers running through sparse woodland. White-backed can also be found in farmyards, gardens and orchards. In the Western Cape it is also common in Port Jackson willow (Acacia saligna) and Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) thickets.
Red-faced:
Average length: 11.4 to 14.3 inces
Weight range: 45.1 to 65.9 grams
Range of Red-Faced: Southern Angola, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozabique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, to Southern Africa where it is common in non-arid areas, dry woodlands and avoid barren deserts. They prefer habitats such as oasis with palms, Acacia savanna and thickets, gardens, woodland with nearby rivers, strandveld, gardens and orchards. They are the only mousebird species that migrate from the inland to the coast in the winter.
Blue-naped:
Average length: 12.6 to 15.7 inches
Weight range: 34 to 62 grams
Range of Blue-Naped: Mauritania, Mali, Senegambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Sudan to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, Zaire, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. Their range extends across the widest section of the continent, and will sometimes overlap with the White-Headed and Speckled ranges. They prefer open, semi-aid woods with thorny vegetation near rivers and streams, near villages, farms, and near man-made wells.
Speckled:
Average length: 10.2 to 14.2 inches
Weight range: 36 to 89 grams
Range of Speckled: There are 17 (possibly 19) subspecies of Speckled that range throughout Africa. In areas of Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Central African Republic, SE Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa. Speckled are very adaptable, occurring in forest edges, thickets, gardens, orchards, villages, strandveld, riverine woodland and alien tree plantations. Speckled can endure a wide range of temperatures. From emails from South Africa, I’ve noticed that the Speckled are darker than the ones found farther north.
White-headed:
Average length: 11.4 to 13 inches
Weight range: 28 to 42 grams
Range of White-headed:Ethiopia, Southern Somalia, North, East and Southern areas of Kenya, Tanzania. They range from sea level, to 1300 meters on Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. They prefer dry, arid and semi-arid regions, and often frequent water sources, evergreen bushes, and trees.
Red-backed:
Average length: 11.4 to 15 inches
Weight range: 39 to 82 grams
Range of Red-Backed: have the smallest range of distribution inhabiting areas between the Speckled and White-backed ranges. Also called Chestnut-backed mousebirds live in the region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo River, and Angola. Sparsely treed savannas and woodlands are preferred as habitats
