Swainson's Sparrow

Swainson's Sparrow (Passer swainsonii) is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs in the highlands of Ethiopia and Somalia, and in some of Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Kenya. It is often considered a race of Grey-headed Sparrow, but it tends to be darker, especially on the head and shoulders. There is a white bar on the shoulder, but this is not always visible. Similarly, the pale chestnut tail and rump is not always visible. In Ethiopian towns it is the common sparrow.

This sparrow was named after the English naturalist and illustrator William John Swainson.

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