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WoodlandCavity nestSmall · 30 g
ID tip
For a sparrow, the Cape sparrow is strikingly coloured and distinctive, and is medium-sized at 14–16 cm (5.5–6.3 in) long. Adults range in weight from 17 to 38 grams (0.60–1.34 oz). The breeding male has a mostly black head, but with a broad white mark on each side, curling from behind the eye to the throat. On the throat a narrow black band connects the black bib of the breast to black of the head. The underparts are greyish, darker on the flanks. The back of the male's neck is dark grey, and its back and shoulders are bright chestnut.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Cape Sparrow
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Cape Sparrow
The map shades 8 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Cape Sparrow
The Cape sparrow, or mossie, is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae found in southern Africa. A medium-sized sparrow at 14–16 centimetres (5.5–6.3 in), it has distinctive plumage, including large pale head stripes in both sexes. Its plumage is mostly grey, brown, and chestnut, and the male has some bold black and white markings on its head and neck. The species inhabits semi-arid savannah, cultivated areas, and towns, and ranges from the central coast of Angola to eastern South Africa and Eswatini. Three subspecies are distinguished in different parts of its range.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Southern Grey-headed SparrowPasser diffususThe southern grey-headed sparrow is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae.
Spanish SparrowPasser hispaniolensisThe Spanish sparrow is a rather large sparrow, at 15–16 cm (6–6.5 in) in length, and 22–36 g (0.78–1.27 oz) in weight.
Northern Grey-headed SparrowPasser griseusThe northern grey-headed sparrow, also known as the grey-headed sparrow, is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae, which is resident in much of tropical Africa.
Side by side: Cape Sparrow vs House Sparrow · Cape Sparrow vs Eurasian Tree Sparrow · Cape Sparrow vs Spanish Sparrow
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