About Gymnoris dentata (Sundevall, 1850)
This species, commonly known as the Sahel bush sparrow, has the scientific name Gymnoris dentata (Sundevall, 1850). The Sahel bush sparrow is a small bird with a large, conical beak and a short tail. It reaches an approximate length of 13 cm (5 in). Males have a grey crown, a broad but poorly defined reddish-brown supercilium, and greyish-brown colouring on the face and throat that surrounds a creamy-white bib. A male's beak is black during the breeding season, and horn-coloured for the rest of the year. The plumage of the upper parts and tail is mainly brown, with no white markings on the tail. The upper throat has a poorly defined yellowish spot, and the breast is creamy-buff, fading to whiter colouring on the belly. Females are similar in appearance to males, but have a better-defined white supercilium, brownish (rather than grey) crown and face, a horn-coloured beak year-round, and two white wing bars. Juveniles resemble females in appearance. This bush sparrow occurs across a broad belt of suitable habitat in the Sahel region of Africa, with a range that extends from Senegal to Eritrea and Yemen. It typically inhabits semi-arid savannah with scattered trees and cultivated clearings near settlements, and can be found at altitudes up to around 1,700 m (5,600 ft).
