Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
I think I may have presented this bird here already in the past, but it is still unsolved and bothering me ...Maybe today somebody can help?
Size as House Sparrow, grey rump, brownish mantle with some spotting , but less than in House sparrow, wing without marked spotting lesser coverts very reddish brown , otherwise wing relatively uniform colored, but with 2 pale wingbars , the second weaker. Black on throat less than in house sparrow. Cheeks, front , upper part of head grey and nape grey. Whitish area from base of bill reaching to something like a pale collar. Reddish brown area behind eye, lighter than the reddish brown on House Sparrows head. Breast and belly fairly grey.
Either hybrid or aberrant house sparrow? At the time of my visit, there was a small group of House sparrows at Olifants, but this bird was on its own and not in that group. I do not remember any other sparrow species from that camp, but during our trip we have certainly seen Southern Greyheaded sparrow and Cape sparrow. I think the grey rump excludes the native Southern African sparrows and must indicate some House Sparrow ancestry? Are there any hybrids known of House sparrow and one of the Greyheaded Sparrows anywhere in Africa?
Size as House Sparrow, grey rump, brownish mantle with some spotting , but less than in House sparrow, wing without marked spotting lesser coverts very reddish brown , otherwise wing relatively uniform colored, but with 2 pale wingbars , the second weaker. Black on throat less than in house sparrow. Cheeks, front , upper part of head grey and nape grey. Whitish area from base of bill reaching to something like a pale collar. Reddish brown area behind eye, lighter than the reddish brown on House Sparrows head. Breast and belly fairly grey.
Either hybrid or aberrant house sparrow? At the time of my visit, there was a small group of House sparrows at Olifants, but this bird was on its own and not in that group. I do not remember any other sparrow species from that camp, but during our trip we have certainly seen Southern Greyheaded sparrow and Cape sparrow. I think the grey rump excludes the native Southern African sparrows and must indicate some House Sparrow ancestry? Are there any hybrids known of House sparrow and one of the Greyheaded Sparrows anywhere in Africa?
