Animalia Life

Passer motitensis
TAXONOMY
Pyrgita motitensis A. Smith, 1836, northern Cape Province, South Africa.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Great sparrow; French: Grand moineau; German: Rostsperling; Spanish: Gorriуn Grande.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.9–6.3 in (15–16 cm); 1.0–1.3 oz (28–37 g). Large, robust sparrow. Male has blue-gray crown and a chestnut band circling the rear of the pale cheek. Female is similar, but less well marked. Juvenile paler.
DISTRIBUTION
Widely, but sparsely, distributed in southern Africa.
HABITAT
Dry acacia savanna.
BEHAVIOR
A solitary species.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Mainly grass seeds. Nestlings are reared on insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Builds domed nest in thorny tree. Two clutches of three to six eggs. Both sexes take part in breeding activities.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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