Gymnoris superciliaris
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrows (previously known as the Yellow-throated Petronia) inhabit dry woodland, savannas and riverine thickets with a sparse grass covering. They are usually encountered singly or in monogamous, fairly permanent pairs, often in the company of other seed-eating birds. Aside from seeds, which form their staple diet, these sparrow-like birds also consumes invertebrates and nectar, and will forage both on the ground and along large branches.
They sleep and breed in holes in trees, often using old woodpecker or barbet nests for the purpose. Their breeding season spans all of the spring and summer months, with the female being responsible for the incubation of the eggs. Adults grow to 16cm in length with a weight of around 24g.
The IUCN considers the Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow to be of least concern. In South Africa they can be found in the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West Province, while they’re also widely distributed over much of the rest of Africa south of the Equator.
DeWetsWild 
Lovely!
Regards Thom
In their own demure way they certainly are, thanks Thom
Waar gaan julle die Kersfees?
Wildtuin toe! Plan is 30 nagte in die Kruger, Tina.
Oooooo dit lyk erg warm. Hoop hulle kry ook reën! Sien uit na jou foto’s!
Baie dankie Tina. Daar het reeds goeie reen geval en ons sien uit na n mooi groen Wildtuin, warm of te not!
Ek ek sien die kant uit na die foto’s!
You have some very nice images here. Birds can be so difficult to photograph.
That’s very kind of you, PJB – thank you so much!
I will be keeping an eye out for these birds from now on! Thanks for drawing attention to them.
I’m hoping to work my way from sparrows to the even more tricky-to-identify LBJ’s, like the larks and pipits… 😀
Oooh yes. The only way I have had any luck with larks is from learning a few calls … but to be honest, the only one I reliably remember is the rufus-naped lark 🙂
Ek het nooit eers geweet van ‘n geelvlekmossie nie. As ek mossies sien, dan is dit maar net mossies omdat hulle so vaal is. Weer iets by jou geleer, dankie Dries.Pragtige foto’s!
Baie dankie, Dina, en ek is bly ons kon jou aan die geelvlekmossie voorstel – volgende keer as jy n mossie sien gaan jy 2x kyk!
Beslis!!
Again, you have a lovely collection of photographs. These birds are easily overlooked yet are attractive in their own right.
Thanks very much, Anne. Yes, like most sparrows they appear drab at first sight but on closer inspection they’re quite pretty.
It reminds me of the House Sparrow. Great shots! 🙂
Thanks, H.J. Indeed, the two can be easily confused.