Cape Sparrow

Passer melanurus (Müller, PLS, 1776)

Cape Sparrow, Passer melanurus, is a sparrow of subtropical southern Africa, breeding in savanna and human-made habitats from coastal Angola through northern Namibia, northern Botswana and north-western Zimbabwe to South Africa. It is marked by broad pale stripes on the head in both sexes, with the male also showing strong black and white patterning on the head and neck. The species is placed in the sparrow family Passeridae. It was described by Müller in 1776.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Passeridae — Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches

Breeding range

Africa: subtropical s Africa in savanna and anthropogenic habitats: coastal c Angola, n Namibia, n Botswana and sw Zimbabwe s through South Africa