White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyPasseridae (Old World Sparrows)
GenusPlocepasser (Sparrow-Weavers)
SpeciesPlocepasser mahali (White-browed Sparrow-Weaver)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Addo Elephant National Park

3 Verified sightings at Addo Elephant National Park From 2019 to 2026

9,864 Verified sightings across all 42 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

The white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali) is a predominantly brown, sparrow-sized bird found throughout central and north-central southern Africa. It is found in groups of two to eleven individuals consisting of one breeding pair and other non-reproductive individuals.

During his expedition to the interior of southern Africa in 1834–35, Andrew Smith collected specimens of the white-browed sparrow weaver at the Modder River, which he described in 1836, giving it the scientific name Plocepasser mahali.

Smith did not provide an explanation for the species epithet mahali, but is clear it is not a Latin name. Probably it is derived from the vernacular name for the bird in Setswana mogale or from the Sesotho word mohale, a brave or fierce person, which suggests the bird's name may refer to its angry scolding.

Other common names used in English include black-billed mahali weaverbird, black-billed sparrow weaver, Kismayu sparrow-weaver, stripe-breasted sparrow-weaver, white-browed weaver bird, and white-crowned weaver bird. In Kikamba it's called ngõsõ. In Tugen, spoken by the Tugen subtribe of the Kalenjin, it... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Addo Elephant National Park

LC Endemic

Passer melanurus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Passer diffusus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Gymnoris superciliaris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Lanius collaris

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Dicrurus adsimilis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Motacilla capensis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Lamprotornis nitens

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Corvus capensis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Corvus albus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Telophorus zeylonus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Andropadus importunus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Laniarius ferrugineus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~80%
2	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	~80%
3	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~80%
4	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~70%
5	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~60%
6	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
7	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~50%
8	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~50%
9	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	~50%
10	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~40%
11	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
12	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
13	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~40%
14	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~40%
15	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~40%
16	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
17	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
18	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~30%
19	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
20	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
21	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
22	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
23	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	~20%
24	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
25	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
26	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
27	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
28	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
29	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
30	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
31	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
32	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
33	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
34	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
35	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	Insufficient data
36	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
37	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
38	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
39	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
40	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
41	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
42	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data

← Back to Addo Elephant National Park

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

About the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Recent sightings of White-browed Sparrow-Weaver in Addo Elephant National Park

Closest Relatives at Addo Elephant National Park

Cape Sparrow

Southern Gray-headed Sparrow

Yellow-throated Sparrow

Southern Fiscal

Fork-tailed Drongo

Cape Wagtail

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Cape Crow

Pied Crow

Bokmakierie

Sombre Greenbul

Southern Boubou

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found