The chestnut sparrow is a species of passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is the smallest member of the sparrow family, at about 11 cm (4.3 in) long. The breeding male has deep chestnut plumage and the female and juvenile are coloured a duller grey with some chestnut markings. Like its closest relatives in the genus Passer, the Arabian golden sparrow and the Sudan golden sparrow, it is gregarious and found in arid areas. Ranging through the east of Africa from Darfur in Sudan to Tanzania, it is found in dry savanna, papyrus swamps, and near human habitation. Adults and juveniles both feed mostly on grass seeds, and fly in flocks, often with other species of birds, to find food. It nests in trees, building its own domed nests, and also usurping the more elaborate nests of weavers.
Region
East Africa
Typical Environment
Found from western Sudan east and south through South Sudan and Ethiopia to Kenya and northern Tanzania. It occupies dry savanna, thorn scrub, and semi-arid grasslands, and is also seen at the edges of papyrus swamps and along seasonal watercourses. The species readily uses human-modified habitats such as villages, grain stores, and fields. It forms mixed flocks with other seed-eaters and concentrates where grasses are seeding.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The chestnut sparrow is the smallest true sparrow, with breeding males showing a striking deep chestnut plumage. It often nests colonially and is known to usurp the elaborate woven nests of weavers. Flocks regularly gather around villages and water sources in arid zones and may shift locally with rainfall. Its diet is dominated by grass seeds, but it takes small insects, especially during breeding.
From left to right, the Arabian golden sparrow, which has mostly yellow plumage, the Sudan golden sparrow, which is yellow with a brown back, and the brown chestnut sparrow
An immature male in Tanzania
Male in breeding plumage feeding on scraps of food in Kenya
Grey-capped social weaver nests in Kenya
Temperament
social and gregarious
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually in flocks, often mixing with other granivorous species. Nests in loose colonies, building domed grass nests in trees and shrubs, and frequently usurping the hanging nests of weavers. Breeding is timed to local rains when seeds and insects peak.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are dry chips and twitters given in rapid sequences. The song is a simple series of chirps and buzzes, softer and less varied than many other sparrows, delivered from prominent perches near colonies.
