Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sahel Bush Sparrow
Gymnoris dentata
Sahel Bush Sparrow (Gymnoris dentata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Sahel Bush Sparrow (Gymnoris dentata) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 18.4 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 Gymnoris
- Species dentata
Where it lives
Sahel zone and southwestern Arabian Pen. in aridlands, drywoods and fields: southern Mauritania to Guinea and east to northern Eritrea, western, central Ethiopia and South Sudan; also southwestern Yemen
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sahel Bush Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Sahel Bush Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Sahel Bush Sparrow (Gymnoris dentata) is a member of the Passeridae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sahel zone and sw Arabian Pen. in aridlands, drywoods and fields: s Mauritania to Guinea and e to n Eritrea, w, c Ethiopia and South Sudan; also sw Yemen.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.8 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sahel Bush Sparrow?
The Sahel Bush Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 18.4 g.
Where does the Sahel Bush Sparrow live?
The Sahel Bush Sparrow is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sahel zone and sw Arabian Pen. in aridlands, drywoods and fields: s Mauritania to Guinea and e to n Eritrea, w, c Ethiopia and South Sudan; also sw Yemen, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sahel Bush Sparrow belong to?
The Sahel Bush Sparrow (Gymnoris dentata) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Sahel Bush Sparrow eat?
The Sahel Bush Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Sahel Bush Sparrow migrate?
The Sahel Bush Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Sahel Bush 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 Sahel Bush Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Sahel Bush 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 Sahel Bush Sparrow's range?
The Sahel Bush Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 4.2 million 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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