Desert sparrow

Last updated

Desert sparrow
Desert Sparrow - Merzouga - Morocco 07 7156 (22203842844).jpg
Male in Morocco
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species:
P. simplex
Binomial name
Passer simplex
PasserSimplex.svg
The ranges of the desert sparrow and Zarudny's sparrow

The desert sparrow (Passer simplex) is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae, found in the Sahara Desert of northern Africa. A similar bird, Zarudny's sparrow, is found in Central Asia and was historically recognised as a subspecies of the desert sparrow, but varies in a number of ways and is now recognised as a separate species by BirdLife International, [2] [1] the IOC World Bird List, [3] and the Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. [4]

Contents

The desert sparrow has two subspecies which occur in some of driest parts of the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa. This species is becoming scarcer as a result of habitat destruction, but it is assessed on the IUCN Red List as being of least concern for conservation. [1] Zarudny's sparrow is also considered to be a least concern species, [2] as was the combined species recognised before 2012. [1]

The desert sparrow is not afraid to come near humans and sometimes builds nests in muddy walls. The Mozabite Berbers build their homes with holes in the walls to welcome these birds, which they call "bar-rode", and if one sings all day in the house, they say this is a sign of good news. The Tuareg, who call the bird "moula-moula", also say that this bird brings good news when it comes to stay near the camp. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cream-colored courser</span> Species of bird

The cream-colored courser is a wader in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae. Both parts of the scientific name derive from Latin cursor, "runner", from currere, "to run" which describes their usual habit as they hunt their insect prey on the ground in dry open semi-desert regions of Western Asia and northern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-backed sparrow-lark</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-backed sparrow-lark is a passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African paradise flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The African paradise flycatcher is a medium-sized passerine bird. The two central tail feathers of the male are extended into streamers that commonly are more than twice as long as the body. The female tail feathers are of moderate length and without streamers. The upper parts of the male body, wings, and tail are boldly coloured in chestnut or rusty shades, but the underparts and the head are variably grey to blue-gray, with the head of the mature male being darker, commonly glossy black with greenish highlights. The beak and other bare areas, including a wattle ring round the eye, match the colour of the surrounding feathers. The female coloration is similar, though not so showy and glossy and with the head paler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert lark</span> Species of bird

The desert lark breeds in deserts and semi-deserts from Morocco to western India. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, and surveys have shown that it is slowly increasing in numbers as it expands its range. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali sparrow</span> Species of bird

The Somali sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passeridae found in Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-necklaced partridge</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-necklaced partridge is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in forests in the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as vulnerable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-billed spurfowl</span> Species of bird

The red-billed spurfowl, also known as the red-billed francolin, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar-tailed lark</span> Species of bird

The bar-tailed lark or bar-tailed desert lark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. Two other species, the rufous-tailed lark and the Cape clapper lark are both also sometimes referred to using the name bar-tailed lark. It is found from Morocco to Pakistan. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. This is in many places a common species, but elsewhere rather less common. It has a very wide distribution and faces no obvious threats, but surveys have shown that it is slowly decreasing in numbers. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large-billed tern</span> Species of bird

The large-billed tern is a species of tern in the family Laridae. It is placed the monotypic genus Phaetusa. It is found in most of South America. It has occurred as a vagrant in Aruba, Bermuda, Cuba, Panama and the United States. Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery-browed starling</span> Species of bird

The fiery-browed starling or fiery-browed myna is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is monotypic within the genus Enodes. Distinguished by a reddish-orange stripe over the eye, it is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, mainly living in humid highland forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinnamon-bellied imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird

The cinnamon-bellied imperial pigeon or cinnamon imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the northern Moluccas. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown-hooded kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The brown-hooded kingfisher is a species of bird in the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers. It has a brown head and blackish and turquoise wings. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, living in woodland, scrubland, forest edges, and also suburban areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as being of least concern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winding cisticola</span> Species of bird

The winding cisticola is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It has a scattered distribution across Africa south of the Sahara, and north of 11°S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayan black magpie</span> Species of bird

The Malayan black magpie is a species of bird in the family Corvidae. Despite its name, it is neither a magpie nor, as was long believed, a jay, but a treepie. Treepies are a distinct group of corvids externally similar to magpies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samoan fantail</span> Species of bird

The Samoan fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to Samoa and is found in Upolu and Savaiʻi islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown babbler</span> Species of bird

The brown babbler is a species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is predominantly found in West Africa, but ranging from the Gambia to Kenya. The species is common across its range. The species is also known as the Sudan babbler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikolai Zarudny</span>

Nikolai Alekseyvich Zarudny was a Ukrainian-Russian explorer and zoologist who studied the flora and fauna of Central Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abd al-Kuri sparrow</span> Species of bird

The Abd al-Kuri sparrow is a passerine bird endemic to the small island of Abd al Kuri in the Socotra archipelago of the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa. Though this species was originally described as a distinct species, it was considered conspecific with the Socotra sparrow. A study by Guy Kirwan showed significant differences from the Socotra sparrow, and that the two sparrows might even have different origins. On the evidence that it is morphologically distinct, BirdLife International recognised it as a species, and it was listed in the IOC World Bird List from December 2009. It has a very restricted distribution, and a population of under 1,000 individuals, so despite not having any known threats it is considered a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zarudny's sparrow</span> Species of bird

Zarudny's sparrow, also known as the Asian desert sparrow, is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae, which occurs in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and formerly in Iran. This species has historically been classified as a subspecies of the desert sparrow, which is otherwise restricted to Africa. However, the species has a number of differences with the African species, including very similar plumage in adult males and females, which suggests this species is distinct enough to be considered separate, and possibly not most closely related to the African birds. Consequently, Zarudny's sparrow is treated as a separate species by BirdLife International, the IOC World Bird List, and the Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern New Zealand dotterel</span> Subspecies of bird

The northern New Zealand dotterel or northern red-breasted plover is a shorebird which breeds exclusively on beaches in New Zealand's North Island.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 BirdLife International (2016). "Passer simplex". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22736020A95123332. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22736020A95123332.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Passer zarudnyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22736027A95123540. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22736027A95123540.en .
  3. Gill, F.; Donsker, D. (eds.). "Updates: Species 3.1-3.5". IOC World Bird List. International Ornithological Congress. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  4. del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. (2017). "Zarudny's Sparrow (Passer zarudnyi)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  5. "The Desert Sparrow". The Emberiza Fund. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2013.