Alternative names: Yellow-throated Bush-Sparrow; South African Petronia; South African Rock-Sparrow
- Gymnoris superciliaris
Petronia superciliaris
Identification
15 - 16cm (6-6¼ in).
- Dusky brown above
- Broad whitish-buff supercilium bordered below by blackish-brown eyestripe
- Dusky streaked back
- Pale buffish tips on upperwing-coverts
- Dark brown tail with narrow pale or warm buffish-brown edges
- Whitish chin, white throat
- Inconspicuous yellow spot on lower throat
- Brownish-grey underparts
- Robust brown bill with paler lower mandible (more rarely a pink to pale bill)
Sexes similar. Juveniles are like adults but warmer brown and with a buffish supercilium.
Similar species
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver is larger, whiter below, broader white supercilium, and has white rump.
Distribution
Southern and eastern Africa.
Common to locally uncommon.
Taxonomy
Yellow-throated Petronia has previously included Yellow-spotted Petronia and Chestnut-shouldered Petronia which are both sometimes called Yellow-throated Petronia!
Some authorities place this species in genus Petronia.
Subspecies
Four subspecies recognized[1]:
- G. s. rufitergum from extreme southeast Gabon, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo east to Tanzania and south to Angola, Namibia and Botswana
- G. s. flavigula in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and northern South Africa
- G. s. bororensis in eastern Tanzania to Mozambique and northeast South Africa and Swaziland
- G. s. superciliaris in eastern South Africa
The geographical variation is poorly marked and some authorities treat this species as monotypic.
Habitat
Dry forests, dry savanna and dry shrubland. Especially in hilly districts. Occurs up to 1500m.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes seeds, nectar and insects. Forages mainly in higher branches of trees, sometimes on the ground. Usually seen singly, in pairs or small flocks. Outside breeding season also in larger flocks.
Breeding
Breeding season according to rain. The nest is a loose ball made of grass and feathers. It's placed in a hole in a tree trunk. 3-4 green eggs are laid.
Movements
A resident species with some wandering outside breeding season.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Birdforum thread discussing id of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Yellow-throated Petronia. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 February 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Yellow-throated_Petronia
