Passer suahelicus
Silhouette: Andrew Butko (modified) · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
The Swahili sparrow (Passer suahelicus) is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It lives in the savanna of southern Kenya and Tanzania. Until recently, it was usually treated as a subspecies of the northern grey-headed sparrow (Passer griseus), with which it hybridizes in southern Tanzania and possibly elsewhere. It has a more rounded head profile however, a smaller eye and the grey head plumage extends unto the mantle.
In addition to the subtle physical characteristics, the Swahili sparrow also differs from the northern grey-headed sparrow in terms of habitat preference, nest construction and post-breeding behaviour. They build grass nests in Acacia trees in dry regions, and generally avoid moister coastal lowlands or uplands. Following the breeding season they form nomadic flocks, and the bill colour will change from black to horn-coloured. They may nest in the proximity of northern grey-headed sparrow, but not on buildings, and may be found beside individuals of the latter species as they disperse onto farmland.
Media related to Passer suahelicus at Wikimedia Commons Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 2 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 3 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 4 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 5 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 6 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 7 | Lake Nakuru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Swahili Sparrow sighting in Lake Manyara National Park on a given day, based on 46 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 103rd most-seen of the 307 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Swahili Sparrow in Lake Manyara National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–February and August, the lowest months. That is one of Lake Manyara National Park's wettest months, with about 120 mm of rain against 15 mm in September.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Swahili Sparrow sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
5th of 7
Of the 7 parks where we can rate Swahili Sparrow sightings, Lake Manyara National Park ranks 5th at about 10%. The best odds are in Ruaha National Park (Tanzania, about 40%), Tarangire National Park (Tanzania, about 30%) and Serengeti National Park (Tanzania, about 30%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Swahili Sparrow is recorded against all the birds logged in Lake Manyara National Park (46 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
