Swainson's Sparrow
Passer swainsonii
The Swainson's Sparrow (Passer swainsonii) is a rare snowfinches and old world sparrow found in 6 countries, weighing about 32 g. The Swainson's sparrow is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae.
About the Swainson's Sparrow
The Swainson's sparrow is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. Sometimes considered a subspecies of the grey-headed sparrow, it occurs in northeastern Africa, largely in the Ethiopian Highlands. This sparrow was named after the English naturalist and illustrator William Swainson.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Swainson's sparrow reaches a body length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in). There is no conspicuous sexual dimorphism. It is often considered a race of grey-headed sparrow, but it tends to be darker, especially on the head and shoulders. There is a white bar on the shoulder, but this is not always visible. Similarly, the pale chestnut tail and rump is not always visible.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Sudan.
When to see it
The Swainson's Sparrow can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Swainson's Sparrow?
- The Swainson's sparrow reaches a body length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Swainson's Sparrow?
- The Swainson's Sparrow is a small sized bird weighing about 32 g.
- Where can you see a Swainson's Sparrow?
- The Swainson's Sparrow occurs in 6 countries, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya and Djibouti.
- What birds look similar to a Swainson's Sparrow?
- The Swainson's Sparrow is most easily confused with the Dead Sea Sparrow, the Parrot-billed Sparrow and the Chestnut Sparrow.
- Is the Swainson's Sparrow endangered?
- The Swainson's Sparrow is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Swainson's Sparrow for real
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