Passer suahelicus
Silhouette: Andrew Butko (modified) · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
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 Masai Mara National Reserve on a given day, based on 226 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 153rd most-seen of the 398 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January–June and August–November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Swahili Sparrow in Masai Mara National Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in July and December, the lowest months.
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.
6th of 7
Of the 7 parks where we can rate Swahili Sparrow sightings, Masai Mara National Reserve ranks 6th 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%).
Same genus: Passer
The closest relatives of the Swahili Sparrow that you can see in Masai Mara National Reserve (genus Passer, True Sparrows) are Northern Grey-headed Sparrow (about 10%) and Kenya Rufous Sparrow (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Swahili Sparrow is recorded against all the birds logged in Masai Mara National Reserve (226 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.
