Photo: Henrik Grønvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Somali Sparrow
Passer castanopterus
Somali Sparrow (Passer castanopterus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
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The Somali Sparrow (Passer castanopterus) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 18 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 castanopterus
Where it lives
Northeastern Africa in arid and semiarid natural and anthropogenic habitats: Djibouti, northeastern Ethiopia and Somalia (except southern); disjunctly in southwestern Ethiopia and northwestern Kenya
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Somali 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 Somali Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Somali Sparrow (Passer castanopterus) belongs to the Passeridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne Africa in arid and semiarid natural and anthropogenic habitats: Djibouti, ne Ethiopia and Somalia (except s); disjunctly in sw Ethiopia and nw Kenya.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 5.1 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 713,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Somali Sparrow?
The Somali Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 18 g.
Where does the Somali Sparrow live?
The Somali Sparrow is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne Africa in arid and semiarid natural and anthropogenic habitats: Djibouti, ne Ethiopia and Somalia (except s); disjunctly in sw Ethiopia and nw Kenya, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Somali Sparrow belong to?
The Somali Sparrow (Passer castanopterus) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Somali Sparrow eat?
The Somali Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Somali Sparrow migrate?
The Somali Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Somali 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.
How large is the Somali Sparrow's range?
The Somali Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 713,000 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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Guides for this bird
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