Bird watching in Thailand: the yellow-bellied sparrow (Passer flaveolus)

The yellow-bellied sparrow (Passer flaveolus) is a passerine bird in the family of sparrows (Passeridae). This bird is found from Myanmar to southern Vietnam.

The sparrow with, also called the Pegu sparrow or the olive back sparrow, is a sparrow found in Southeast Asia. Its range extends from Myanmar to central Vietnam, and south to the western part of Peninsular Malaysia.

The bird is most often spotted in central and eastern Thailand and is also common in most of Cambodia, including Phnom Penh.

The yellow-bellied sparrow is a colorful and distinctive sparrow – at least the male, which is usually olive green with a maroon back, a yellow face and forehead, and a black mask with a throat patch in the center.

Females and immature birds are generally tawny, sometimes tending to grey, often with a yellowish wash, especially on the underparts and face. They have a distinct eyebrow stripe that extends to the back.