🎵 Hear this bird singing nearby?Identify its song free →

Cape Sparrow

Passer melanurus · Species of bird
Order
Passeriformes
Codes
capspa1, CASP

About the Cape Sparrow

The Cape sparrow, or mossie, is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae found in southern Africa. A medium-sized sparrow at 14–16 centimetres (5.5–6.3 in), it has distinctive plumage, including large pale head stripes in both sexes. Its plumage is mostly grey, brown, and chestnut, and the male has some bold black and white markings on its head and neck. The species inhabits semi-arid savannah, cultivated areas, and towns, and ranges from the central coast of Angola to eastern South Africa and Eswatini. Three subspecies are distinguished in different parts of its range.

Source: Wikipedia

Taxonomy & Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyOld World Sparrows (Passeridae)
SpeciesPasser melanurus
Species Codescapspa1, CASP

Frequently Asked Questions

What family does the Cape Sparrow belong to?

The Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) belongs to the Old World Sparrows family (Passeridae), in the order Passeriformes.

How can I identify the Cape Sparrow?

The Cape sparrow, or mossie, is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae found in southern Africa. A medium-sized sparrow at 14–16 centimetres (5.5–6.3 in), it has distinctive plumage, including large pale head stripes in both sexes. Its plumage is mostly grey, brown, and chestnut, and the male has s...

Where can I report a Cape Sparrow sighting?

You can log sightings of Cape Sparrow on eBird (ebird.org) using species code capspa1, or on iNaturalist.