Summary. There are increasing records of the White-browed Sparrow-weaver in the Kruger National Park and adjacent areas in the Lowveld in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. This is most likely due to bush encroachment.

Records. The White-browed Sparrow-weaver was recorded up to the edge of the escarpment by 1985. Based on records from Lydenburg, the White-browed Sparrow-weaver was becoming more common, and breeding, on the edge of the escarpment around 1990. The first record of crossing the escarpment was of a bird seen in Kruger NP in 1984. There were several literature and SABAP2 records from 1991 onwards in Kruger, and scattered annual records from 2009. There has been one case of nest building in Kruger, as recently as 2010. The records from Kruger are spread through the year with most months having 2 or close to 2 records, but January has the most records (n=7).

Map. Map of the Kruger National Park and surrounding areas with White-browed Sparrow-weaver records based on SABAP1 (large green grids), SABAP2 (small blue grids), PHOWN (markers with letter P) and literature records (markers with letter L). Escarpment marked with a grey blob.

Participate. Please keep a look out for White-browed Sparrow-weavers in the Lowveld to monitor the spread of this species! If you find nests, please submit records of nests to PHOWN, PHOtos of Weaver Nests, by uploading photos to Virtual Museum (read the "How to" pdf for help).