White-browed Sparrow-weaver
Encyclopedia
The White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali; ) is a predominantly brown, sparrow
-sized weaver found throughout central and northcentral southern Africa
. It is found in
groups of two to eleven individuals consisting of one breeding pair and nonreproductive individuals.
of the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver.
has a pinkish brown (not black) bill, a buff (not white) eyebrow stripe, black (not pink) feet, and yellow shading at the bottom of a white throat. Additionally, the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver is larger than the Yellow-throated Petronia. Unlike the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, the Yellow-throated Petronia may be found in broad-leaved woodland.
, its range includes Botswana
, northern and central Namibia
, and western Zimbabwe
. It is seen very often in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia and southern Malawi. Populations may be found as far north as Ethiopia
.
This species nests along thornveld and scrubby, dry riverbanks.
Because the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver nests in colonies, populations are sedentary.
and Ashy Tit
.
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
-sized weaver found throughout central and northcentral southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It is found in
groups of two to eleven individuals consisting of one breeding pair and nonreproductive individuals.
Taxonomy
There are four recognized subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver.
- P. m. mahali is found in the eastern part of the northern Cape Province of South Africa.
- P. m. stentor is found from the western part of the northern Cape Province northwards along the Namibian escarpment.
- P. m. terricolor is found towards the center of the White-Browed Sparrow-Weaver's range, occurring predominantly in eastern Botswana.
- P. m. pectoralis is found in northeastern Zimbabwe along the lower Zambezi riverZambeziThe Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
.
Description
It ranges from 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in.) in length and is characterized by a broad, white eyebrow stripe and white rump visible in flight. While the male White-browed Sparrow-Weaver sports a black bill, the female's bill is horn-colored; that of the juvenile is pinkish-brown. In Zimbabwe, the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver shows faint brown spotting across its white breast.Voice
The White-browed Sparrow-Weaver may emit either a brief chik-chick or a loud, fluid, cheoop-preeoo-chop whistle.Similar species
The Yellow-throated PetroniaYellow-throated Petronia
The Yellow-throated Petronia is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
has a pinkish brown (not black) bill, a buff (not white) eyebrow stripe, black (not pink) feet, and yellow shading at the bottom of a white throat. Additionally, the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver is larger than the Yellow-throated Petronia. Unlike the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, the Yellow-throated Petronia may be found in broad-leaved woodland.
Distribution, habitat and migration
The White-browed Sparrow-Weaver is found in greatest numbers in north-central southern Africa. While this species most densely populates at dry regions with woodland or wooded grassland at northern South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, its range includes Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, northern and central Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, and western Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It is seen very often in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia and southern Malawi. Populations may be found as far north as Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
This species nests along thornveld and scrubby, dry riverbanks.
Because the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver nests in colonies, populations are sedentary.
Reproduction
Nesting
Year round, groups of the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver are active and nest-building. Groups of ten to sixty inverted-U-shaped nests of dry grass appear in the outside limbs of trees, although only several are used for breeding or roosting. While breeding nests have only one entrance, roosting nests have an entrance located at each of the two nest extremities. Research has shown that, throughout a region, nests are located at the leeward side of a tree. This behavior preserves a greater number of intact nests for breeding and roosting. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver nests are sometimes used by other birds, such as the Red-headed FinchRed-headed Finch
The Red-headed Finch, Amadina erythrocephala, is a common species of estrildid finch found in Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 1,600,000 km²...
and Ashy Tit
Ashy Tit
The Ashy Tit is a species of bird in the Paridae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savanna.-References:...
.