The plain-backed sparrow (Passer flaveolus), also called the Pegu sparrow or olive-backed sparrow, is a sparrow found in Southeast Asia. Its range spans from Myanmar to central Vietnam, and south to the western part of Peninsular Malaysia.ve a distinct name in some languages, and is depicted in Japanese art.
The plain-backed sparrow (Passer flaveolus), also known as the Pegu sparrow or olive-backed sparrow, is a species of passerine bird in the true sparrow family Passeridae. Native exclusively to Southeast Asia, it is recognized for its unique coloration and its preference for open country and agricultural habitats over dense urban centers.
Key Characteristics
• Physical Appearance: There is a distinct difference between sexes (sexual dimorphism).
• Males: Feature a prominent black throat, a gray crown and nape, distinctive yellowish-tinted underparts, and a smooth, unstreaked chestnut or dusty reddish-brown back.
• Females: Are much drabber, displaying a plain, unmarked grayish-brown back and a faint, thin pale eyebrow line. Their completely "plain" back lacking any black streaks is the primary way to tell them apart from female House Sparrows.
• Distribution & Habitat: Its natural range covers Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and northern Peninsular Malaysia. It primarily inhabits lowlands up to foothills, favoring open woodland edges, rural gardens, cultivated lands, and rice paddies.
• Diet: Adults are predominantly herbivores that forage on the seeds of grasses, wild herbs, and agricultural crops. However, during the breeding season, they hunt for small insects—such as caterpillars, aphids, and bugs—to feed their nestlings.
• Behavior: They are mostly sedentary (non-migratory) residents but often exhibit nomadic tendencies outside of the breeding season, forming large flocks to gather around ripening rice fields.
• Conservation Status: It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. While it remains locally common and even expanded its range southward into Malaysia during the mid-20th century due to forest clearing, some regional populations have seen modern declines due to shifting agricultural practices.
