Cape Sparrow

Afrikaans name: Gewone mossie

Photo © Steven Herbert

Passer melanurus

The Cape Sparrow is a familar bird over large parts of South Africa. It is mainly found in the western parts of South Africa and further up north as far as Angola.

They are normally seen in small flocks but sometimes, away from human habitation, it can be seen in flocks of around 200.

Cape Sparrows mainly eat seed but they will also eat certain insects, nectar, fruit and soft shoots of plants. They can cause damage to crops.

Most often Cape Sparrows breed in colonies but some birds choose to breed away from the colony. The nest is a domed structure made of grass and twigs. They do sometimes use cavities in buildings or other man-made structures. Between 2 and 6 eggs are laid and are tended to by both parents.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	786	Passer melanurus melanurus
2nd	786	Passer melanurus
3rd	786	Passer melanurus
4th	786	Passer melanurus
5th	803	Passer melanurus
6th	803	Passer melanurus
7th	902	Passer melanurus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	786	Cape Sparrow
2nd	786	Cape Sparrow
3rd	786	Cape Sparrow
4th	786	Cape Sparrow
5th	803	Cape Sparrow
6th	803	Cape Sparrow
7th	902	Cape Sparrow

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	786	Kaapse-mossie
2nd	786	Mossie
3rd	786	Mossie
4th	786	Mossie
5th	803	Gewone Mossie
6th	803	Gewone Mossie
7th	902	Gewone Mossie

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 192

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 69

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 64

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 62

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 334

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 45

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 414

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 103

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 380

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 712

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 710

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 547

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 557

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 422

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 406

Newman s Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 110

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 338

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 194

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 133

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 41

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 107

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 406

LBJ s - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 116

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 23

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 300

Geoff Lockwood s Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 93

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 213

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 114

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 252

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 77

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 24

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 108

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 3 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 4

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 22

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 650

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 267

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 22

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 296

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds