Birdfinding.info ⇒ Locally common in several parts of its range, especially in central and eastern Thailand. Sites near Bangkok where it can be found consistently include Bang Phra, Chulalongkorn University – Saraburi, Lat Krabang, Nong Chok, Nong Pla Lai, Pak Phli, and Song Phi Nong. Also common across most of Cambodia, including Phnom Penh. In Myanmar, seen most often around Bagan; in Malaysia, Chuping; and in Vietnam, Cat Tien National Park and Da Lat.
Plain-backed Sparrow
Passer flaveolus
Family: Passeridae
Southeast Asia, in semiopen and mixed habitats, including towns and farmland.
Central and southern Myanmar east through Thailand, southern Laos, the southern half of Vietnam, and south to peninsular Malaysia around Penang and Terengganu.
Plain-backed Sparrow, male and female. (Sanam Bin Reservoir Wildlife Refuge, Buri Ram, Thailand; February 9, 2017.) © Wich’yanan (Jay) Limparungpatthanakij
Identification
A colorful and distinctive sparrow—at least the male, which is mostly olive with chestnut across the back and behind the eye, yellow face and brow, and a black mask and central throat patch.
Often bright yellow-olive over much of its plumage, especially the underparts, but this varies (presumably brighter overall when breeding).
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with yellow underparts. (Pak Phli, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; January 21, 2016.) © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with olive-gray underparts. (Pak Phli, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; January 21, 2016.) © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
Plain-backed Sparrow, male. (Bang Phra Wildlife Refuge, Chon Buri, Thailand; May 4, 2020.) © Aladdin
Plain-backed Sparrow, male. (Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam; February 16, 2018) © Thibault Riviere
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with yellow underparts. (Nong Prong, Khao Yoi, Phetchaburi, Thailand; February 24, 2014.) © Markus Lilje
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with yellow underparts. (Monywa, Sagaing, Myanmar; March 22, 2018.) © Stéphane Thomin
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with olive-gray underparts. (Khao Yai National Park, Thailand; March 2, 2012.) © Peter Ericsson
Plain-backed Sparrow, male. (Hot, Chiang Mai, Thailand; February 14, 2016.) © creaturesnapper
Plain-backed Sparrow, male showing rich chestnut on back and head. (Lat Krabang, Thailand; January 21, 2018.) © Bird.soong
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with pale yellow-olive underparts. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; December 12, 2016.) © Dave Bakewell
Plain-backed Sparrow, male. (Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia; November 28, 2018.) © Tom Reynolds
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with exceedingly yellow underparts. (Khao Yai National Park, Thailand; March 6, 2011.) © António Gonçalves
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with yellow underparts. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; December 12, 2016.) © Dave Bakewell
Plain-backed Sparrow, male. (Bang Pu, Samut Prakan, Thailand; May 6, 2020.) © Ben Weil
Plain-backed Sparrow, male showing long black central throat patch. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; November 24, 2019.) © Neoh Hor Kee
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with yellow underparts. (Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam; March 9, 2020.) © Laval Roy
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with exceedingly yellow underparts. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; February 19, 2017.) © Choy Wai Mun
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with yellow underparts. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; December 12, 2016.) © Dave Bakewell
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with olive-gray underparts. (Laem Phak Bia, Phetchaburi, Thailand; March 15, 2013.) © Marco Valentini
Plain-backed Sparrow, male with olive-gray underparts. (Cho Lae, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand; September 18, 2015.) © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
Plain-backed Sparrow, male. (Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar; November 15, 2013.) © Otto Samwald
Plain-backed Sparrow, male singing and showing black central throat patch. (Yang Chum Reservoir, Kui Buri National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand; July 2, 2020.) © Aladdin
Plain-backed Sparrow, male and female. (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand; August 26, 2019.) © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
Females and immatures are mostly tan overall, sometimes tending more toward gray, often with a yellowish wash, especially on the underparts and face. They have a distinct buffy eyebrow stripe and that extends back turns down toward the nape.
Unlike other female and immature Passer sparrows, they are essentially unstreaked (i.e., plain-backed).
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with a yellowish wash. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; December 12, 2016.) © Dave Bakewell
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with buffy face and eyebrow. (Pak Phli, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand; January 21, 2016.) © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with drab gray overall coloration and yellowish wash on the throat. (Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; May 4, 2019.) © Andaman Kaosung
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with drab gray overall coloration. (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Thailand; February 19, 2013.) © Myron Tay
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with a strong yellowish wash. (Chuping, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia; February 19, 2017.) © Choy Wai Mun
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with a strong yellowish wash. (Khao Yai National Park, Thailand; October 21, 2007.) © Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with a subtle yellowish wash. (Thailand; July 26, 2010.) © Albert Noorlander
Plain-backed Sparrow, female with drab gray overall coloration. (Praek Nam Daeng, Samut Songkhram, Thailand; May 1, 2020.) © Aladdin
Notes
Monotypic species.
References
BirdLife International. 2016. Passer flaveolus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22718194A94572013. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22718194A94572013.en. (Accessed October 5, 2020.)
Clement, P., A. Harris, and J. Davis. 1993. Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide. Princeton University Press.
eBird. 2020. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, N.Y. http://www.ebird.org. (Accessed October 5, 2020.)
Robson, C. 2002. Birds of Thailand. Princeton University Press.
Xeno-Canto. 2020. Plain-backed Sparrow – Passer flaveolus. https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Passer-flaveolus. (Accessed October 5, 2020.)