
Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe · CC BY-SA 4.0
Gymnoris xanthocollis
Diet
Grain and berries, foraged on the ground and in bushes
Habitat
Mostly dry savannah; breeds in tree hollows, often holes made by barbets and woodpeckers; roosts communally in low bushes
Incubation period
About 12–14 days, by the female alone
It has a finer bill than typical sparrows of the genus Passer and, unlike them, no streaks on the plumage; the white double wing bar on the shoulder is diagnostic on the otherwise dull grey-brown bird, and there is a pale yellow spot on the throat in fresh plumage, much reduced or lacking in females (Wikipedia, general species account).
They forage on the ground for grain and for berries in bushes and are often seen perched on bare branches while calling. The usual call is a chirrup, and the song a distinctive, repetitive chilp chalp cholp. The species breeds in tree hollows from April to July, often using holes made by primary hole-nesters such as barbets and woodpeckers, and roosts communally in low bushes. The female alone incubates the eggs, sometimes leaving the nest in the hotter parts of the day, and they hatch after about 12 to 14 days (Wikipedia, general species account).