The northern crombec is a species of African warbler, formerly placed in the family Sylviidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
It occupies dry savanna, Sahelian scrub, and Acacia–Commiphora bushland across West, Central, and East Africa. It is also found in thornveld, semi-arid shrublands, and the edges of open woodland, sometimes using gardens and cultivated areas with scattered trees. The species avoids dense closed-canopy forests and true desert. It often tracks flowering or leaf-flush in acacias where insects are abundant.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The northern crombec is a tiny, tail‑almost‑absent African warbler that darts through thorny savannas, gleaning insects from leaves and twigs. Its name derives from its very short, “cropped” tail, giving it a distinctive silhouette. Pairs build neat, domed nests from grasses and spider silk, often well hidden in shrubs. Its high, thin trills carry surprisingly far in open, dry habitats.
Near Lake Baringo - Kenya
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups and frequently joins mixed-species foraging parties in savanna. Pairs defend small territories during breeding and build a neat domed nest low in shrubs. They are agile gleaners, often hanging briefly to pick prey from leaves.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A high-pitched series of thin trills and rattling notes, delivered rapidly and repetitively. Calls include sharp tiks and soft contact notes used to keep pairs together in dense scrub.
