Shelley's sparrow, also known as Shelley's rufous sparrow or the White Nile rufous sparrow, is a sparrow found in eastern Africa from South Sudan, southern Ethiopia, and north-western Somalia to northern Uganda and north-western Kenya. Formerly, it was considered as a subspecies of the Kenya sparrow. This species is named after English geologist and ornithologist George Ernest Shelley.
Region
East Africa and Horn of Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from South Sudan south into northern Uganda and northwestern Kenya, and east through southern Ethiopia to northwestern Somalia. It favors dry savanna, thorn scrub, and open bushland with scattered trees, often near watercourses. The species readily uses agricultural edges, villages, and livestock pens for foraging and nesting opportunities. It is generally sedentary, making local movements in response to food and rainfall.
Altitude Range
0–2200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Shelley's sparrow, also called Shelley's rufous sparrow or the White Nile rufous sparrow, is a small passerine of dry East African savannas. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Kenya sparrow before being split on vocal and plumage differences. It often lives near villages and farmland, benefiting from scattered acacias and cereal crops. The species is named for English ornithologist George Ernest Shelley.
A detail of an illustration by Henrik Grönvold, showing a male Shelley's sparrow
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often in small flocks outside the breeding season, foraging on the ground or low shrubs. Pairs nest in thorny trees or man-made structures, building domed grass nests with side entrances. It frequently associates loosely with other seed-eating birds around farms and water points.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Typical sparrow-like chatter of short chirps and twitters, delivered from exposed perches. Males give a rapid series of dry cheeps during displays and at territory edges.
Plumage
Compact sparrow with warm rufous upperparts and paler, lightly streaked brown back; underparts are grayish to buff. Males show a gray crown and nape with a contrasting rufous mantle and a small black throat patch; females are duller and more uniformly sandy-brown with weaker face contrast. Wings show pale edging forming a faint wingbar; tail is brown with subtle darker centers.
Diet
Primarily seeds of grasses and cultivated cereals, supplemented by small insects such as beetles, termites, and caterpillars, especially in the breeding season. It also takes buds and occasional fallen grains around threshing areas. Forages mainly on the ground with quick hops and short flights between low perches.
Preferred Environment
Open savanna edges, acacia scrub, croplands, and village surroundings where seed and spilt grain are abundant. Often concentrates near livestock enclosures and water sources after rains when insects emerge.
