Least Concern Birds

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

House Sparrow is a small bird common in African towns and farmlands.

Scientific name	Passer domesticus
Swahili name	Mchwa Nyumbani
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Passeridae
Size	Male: approximately 24-39 grams; Female: approximately 21-31 grams

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How to identify

Male has a gray crown, white cheeks, and black patches on the throat and sides of the neck; female has a more subdued coloration, mainly brown and gray; short, stout conical bill suitable for seed pecking; short tail, wings with distinct white wing bars; small size and agile movements.

Habitat

Cities, rural areas, farmland, gardens, shrubs, and near human settlements.

Diet

Omnivorous, mainly feeding on seeds, grains, insects, and fruits; juveniles primarily feed on insects.

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day, especially in early morning and evening.

Where it lives

Widely distributed globally, native to the Eurasian continent, now introduced to Africa, North America, Australia, and other regions; present in Africa including Kenya and the Masai Mara region.

How to spot it

Observe in early morning or evening in city parks, field edges, or near residential areas, noting their flocking behavior and foraging habits.

Photography tips

Use a medium telephoto lens to capture their active feeding and social behavior; photograph in good lighting to highlight plumage details.

Threats

Habitat changes due to urbanization; pesticide use reducing food sources; competition and predation pressure.

Similar species

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) differs by having a chestnut crown and distinct cheek markings; other African Passer species differ in coloration and body size.

📖 how to spot the house sparrow on safari