Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Passer griseus
Plain sparrow with a gray head and underparts, and brown back, wings, and tail. Found in a variety of open habitats, mostly in association with human settlements. The call is a simple “cheep” that is frequently repeated. Very similar to Southern Gray-headed, Swahili, and Parrot-billed Sparrows. Slightly larger and bigger-billed than Southern Gray-headed Sparrow, with a smaller pale shoulder patch. Paler underparts than Swahili Sparrow. Smaller bill and paler underparts than Parrot-billed Sparrow.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Passer griseus
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1817)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passeridae
- Genus
- Passer
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Ferruginous Partridge
Caloperdix oculeus
Flamboyantly plumaged little gamebird, with pumpkin-orange head and breast, brown wings, and smart black-and-white scaling on back and sides. Listen for its exuberant song, a series of accelerating whistles that eventually collapses into harsh, coarse notes, as though its voice had broken. Inhabits lowlands and middle-elevation forests, where it can be difficult to see as it forages on the ground, typically singly or in pairs; most readily seen at established feeding stations.

Darjeeling Woodpecker
Dendrocopos darjellensis
A brightly-colored and well-marked woodpecker of high-altitude Himalayan foothill forests. Similar to Great Spotted Woodpecker but with a densely-streaked yellowish belly and pale yellow-orange on the neck and throat. Males have a bright red patch on the back of the crown which females lack. Like other large black-and-white woodpeckers, usually seen singly or in pairs, drumming away on tree trunks.

White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Large, long-tailed sparrow with striking head pattern. Adults have black and white stripes on the head, while immatures show brown and tan. Underparts are plain grayish without streaks. Bill color varies from yellow to pink, but always brighter than White-throated Sparrow. Breeds in brushy areas or thickets in open forest, often with conifers. In migration and winter, can be found in any brushy or weedy areas, often hopping on the ground. Visits feeders.
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