Swainson's sparrow (Passer swainsonii)is named after the English naturalist and illustrator William John Swainson (1789-1855) – it is for the quality of his illustrations that he is best remembered. To distinguish this sparrow, there is a white bar on the shoulder, but this is not always visible. Similarly, the pale chestnut tail and rump is not always visible. Often considered a race of grey-headed sparrow – it tends to be darker, especially on the head and shoulders – it occurs in north-eastern Africa, largely in the Ethiopian Highlands.
