Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Afrikaans name: Gryskopmossie

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Photo © Steven Herbert

Passer diffusus

While the House Sparrow is an introduced species in South Africa, the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is indigenous to this country.

This sparrow has a warm reddish back and grey head which makes it an attractive, if not flashy, bird.

The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow prefers areas with trees such as woodlands. Although it can be found in gardens it is certainly not common in our cities.

The pair make their nest in a hole in a tree or man-made structure such as a building or pole.

The Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is found over most of South Africa. It only avoids the very dry areas along the western portion of the country.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	787	Pyrgitopsis griseus diffusus
2nd	787	Passer diffusus
3rd	787	Passer diffusus
4th	787	Passer diffusus
5th	804	Passer griseus
6th	804	Passer diffusus
7th	903	Passer diffusus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	787	Grey-headed Sparrow
2nd	787	Grey-headed Sparrow
3rd	787	Grey-headed Sparrow
4th	787	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
5th	804	Greyheaded Sparrow
6th	804	Greyheaded Sparrow
7th	903	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	787	Gryskop-mossie
2nd	787	Gryskop-mossie
3rd	787	Gryskop-mossie
4th	787	Gryskop-mossie
5th	804	Gryskopmossie
6th	804	Gryskopmossie
7th	903	Gryskopmossie

References and further reading

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

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

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 335

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

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

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

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 711

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 713

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 558

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 548

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

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 423

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 404

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 404

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

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 115

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 188

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 134

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 95

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 202

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

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

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 109

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 208

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 268

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

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

---

Top

List of South African Birds