Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Shelley’s Sparrow
Passer shelleyi
Shelley's Sparrow (Passer shelleyi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Shelley’s Sparrow (Passer shelleyi) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 21.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passeridae Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches
- Genus Passer
- Species shelleyi
Where it lives
Northeastern African open wooded savanna and fields: southern South Sudan northeast to southern, central, northeastern Ethiopia and northwestern Somalia; south to northern Uganda and far west-central Kenya
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.9 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shelley’s Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
Where it forages largely on the ground.
Migration
The Shelley’s Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Shelley’s Sparrow (Passer shelleyi) belongs to the Passeridae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne African open wooded savanna and fields: s South Sudan ne to s, c, ne Ethiopia and nw Somalia; s to n Uganda and far wc Kenya.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.9 g, with a wing length of about 7 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 201,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shelley’s Sparrow?
The Shelley’s Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 21.9 g.
Where does the Shelley’s Sparrow live?
The Shelley’s Sparrow is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne African open wooded savanna and fields: s South Sudan ne to s, c, ne Ethiopia and nw Somalia; s to n Uganda and far wc Kenya.
What family does the Shelley’s Sparrow belong to?
The Shelley’s Sparrow (Passer shelleyi) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Shelley’s Sparrow eat?
The Shelley’s Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Shelley’s Sparrow migrate?
The Shelley’s Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Shelley’s Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Shelley’s Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Shelley’s Sparrow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Shelley’s Sparrow's range?
The Shelley’s Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 201,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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