Photo: Brian Butcher / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Swainson’s Sparrow
Passer swainsonii
Swainson's Sparrow (Passer swainsonii) — 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 Swainson’s Sparrow (Passer swainsonii) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 31.6 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 swainsonii
Where it lives
Northeastern African nonforest and anthropogenic habitats: northwestern Eritrea east through Ethiopia to Djibouti and northern Somalia; south to eastern South Sudan and far northern Kenya
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Swainson’s Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Swainson’s Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Swainson’s Sparrow (Passer swainsonii) is a species of bird in the Passeridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne African nonforest and anthropogenic habitats: nw Eritrea e through Ethiopia to Djibouti and n Somalia; s to e South Sudan and far n Kenya.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.6 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 7.1 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 752,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Swainson’s Sparrow?
The Swainson’s Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 31.6 g.
Where does the Swainson’s Sparrow live?
The Swainson’s Sparrow is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne African nonforest and anthropogenic habitats: nw Eritrea e through Ethiopia to Djibouti and n Somalia; s to e South Sudan and far n Kenya, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Swainson’s Sparrow belong to?
The Swainson’s Sparrow (Passer swainsonii) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Swainson’s Sparrow eat?
The Swainson’s Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Swainson’s Sparrow migrate?
The Swainson’s Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Swainson’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 Swainson’s Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Swainson’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 Swainson’s Sparrow's range?
The Swainson’s Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 752,000 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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