Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser superciliosus

Other Names

    Mahali à calotte marron   Braunwangenmahali   Tejedor pardal capirotado   Brunkronad sparvvävare   Muswever, Roodwangwever   Passero tessitore

World: Africa - occurs in a band across the northern part of the continent between 8°N and 15°N from Senegambia in the west to Ethiopia, Uganda and NW Kenya in the east.

Kenya: Open woodland and dry brush primarily between 1200m and 1800m in the Western Highlands from the Kongolai Escarpment to the Karasuk Hills.

Unlike the other Kenyan Sparrow-Weavers this is a quiet and unobtrusive bird which can be easy to overlook. It forages in small parties on the ground or low in the bushes. The bird pictured above was photographed on the Kongolai Escarpment in Kenya and was one of a small group foraging for seeds. As with the other Plocepassers the sexes are alike.