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 Kibale National Park

1 Verified sightings at Kibale 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 Kibale National Park

Passer griseus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Pycnonotus barbatus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Cinnyris chloropygius

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Eurillas virens

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Lonchura cucullata

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Camaroptera brachyura

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Nigrita canicapillus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Elminia longicauda

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Ploceus nigerrimus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Bias musicus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Terpsiphone rufiventer

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Nectarinia kilimensis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · 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 Kibale National Park

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

About the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Recent sightings of White-browed Sparrow-Weaver in Kibale National Park

Closest Relatives at Kibale National Park

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Common Bulbul

Olive-bellied Sunbird

Little Greenbul

Bronze Mannikin

Green-backed Camaroptera

Gray-headed Negrofinch

African Blue Flycatcher

Vieillot's Weaver

Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher

Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher

Bronze Sunbird

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found