Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer diffusus
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 24.2 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 diffusus
Where it lives
Southern African open woodlands and anthropogenic habitats: eastern, southern Angola east to northern Zambia and southern Tanzania, south through South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.2 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) is a member of the Passeridae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF s African open woodlands and anthropogenic habitats: e, s Angola e to n Zambia and s Tanzania, s through South Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.2 g, with a wing length of about 8.1 cm and a tail of around 6.4 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 3.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow?
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 24.2 g.
Where does the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow live?
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is found across Africa with a range covering AF s African open woodlands and anthropogenic habitats: e, s Angola e to n Zambia and s Tanzania, s through South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow belong to?
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow eat?
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow migrate?
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Grey-headed 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 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow's range?
The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 3.4 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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