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.
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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.
Where the Cape Sparrow lives
When to see the Cape Sparrow
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
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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