The white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali) is a predominantly brown, sparrow-sized bird found throughout central and north-central southern Africa.

During his expedition to the interior of southern Africa in 1834–35, Andrew Smith collected specimens of the white-browed sparrow weaver at the Modder River, which he described in 1836, giving it the scientific name Plocepasser mahali.

[3] Smith did not provide an explanation for the species epithet mahali, but is clear it is not a Latin name.

In Zimbabwe, the white-browed sparrow-weaver shows faint brown spotting across its white breast.

Groups of ten to sixty inverted-U-shaped nests of dry grass appear in the outside limbs of trees, although only several are used for breeding or roosting.

[9] This daily heterothermy means that desert birds do not need to use as much evaporative cooling and therefore can conserve body water.

[8] The white-browed sparrow-weaver is becoming more abundant, expanding its range on southern, northern, and eastern fronts.