- Passer gongonensis
Identification
18cm (7 in). The largest of the African Grey-headed Sparrows:
- Distinctive heavy arched bill
- Mid-grey head, neck and underparts
- Brown upperparts, wings and tail
- Bright chestnut rump
- Conspicuous white patch formed by white tips of median-coverts
Sexes similar. Juveniles are browner and they lack the white wing-patch.
Similar Species
Larger than Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Swahili Sparrow and Swainson's Sparrow, generally darker and with a normally more extensive white wing-bar.
Distribution
Occurs in east central Africa in extreme south-east South Sudan, south Somalia, extreme eastern Uganda, most of Kenya and extreme north-eastern Tanzania.
Common in most of its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1]. Forms a superspecies with Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Swainson's Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow and Swahili Sparrow. All are often treated as conspecific.
Habitat
Open country and bush. In more arid country than other members of the superspecies.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on seeds. Nestlings are probably fed with insects.
Forages in pairs or small groups, rarely in larger flocks.
Breeding
Breeding throughout the year, coinciding with rains. The nest is an untidy dome with a side entrance, made of dry grass. It's placed in a tree, sometimes in a tree hole. May also take old nests of other species. Lays 2 eggs in Kenya, 4 - 5 in a study in Somalia.
Movements
No information about movements.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Parrot-billed Sparrow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 22 November 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Parrot-billed_Sparrow
