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'''Alternative names: Rock Petronia; Common Rock-Sparrow; Eurasian Rock-Sparrow; European Rock-Sparrow; Streaked Rock-Sparrow''' | '''Alternative names: Rock Petronia; Common Rock-Sparrow; Eurasian Rock-Sparrow; European Rock-Sparrow; Streaked Rock-Sparrow''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Rock_Sparrow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}}<br />Spanish Pyrenees, [[Spain]]]] | ||
| + | |||
;[[: Category:Petronia|Petronia]] petronia | ;[[: Category:Petronia|Petronia]] petronia | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 14 - 15.5cm. A stout sparrow with a short tail and a robout bill: | + | 14 - 15.5cm (5½-6 in). A stout sparrow with a short tail and a robout bill: |
| − | * Strong white supercilium and weaker crown stripe | + | * Strong white [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] and weaker crown stripe |
* Patterned brown back and wings | * Patterned brown back and wings | ||
* Diagnostic yellow throat-spot but often difficult to see | * Diagnostic yellow throat-spot but often difficult to see | ||
* In flight broad wings and white-tipped tail characteristic | * In flight broad wings and white-tipped tail characteristic | ||
| + | |||
Sexes similar. Juveniles are browner than adults and have no yellow throat-spot. | Sexes similar. Juveniles are browner than adults and have no yellow throat-spot. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
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[[Image:Rs2 copy.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Note the yellow throat-spot<br />Photo by {{user|lior+kislev|lior kislev}}<br />Mount Hermon, Israel, June 2009]] | [[Image:Rs2 copy.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Note the yellow throat-spot<br />Photo by {{user|lior+kislev|lior kislev}}<br />Mount Hermon, Israel, June 2009]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
Six or sometimes seven subspecies are recognized: <sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|2]]]</sup> | Six or sometimes seven subspecies are recognized: <sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|2]]]</sup> | ||
*''P. p. petronia'' (''madeirensis''): | *''P. p. petronia'' (''madeirensis''): | ||
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They can come together in large flocks outside of the breeding season. | They can come together in large flocks outside of the breeding season. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| − | Breeding season from March to August. Nests in loose colonies or isolated pairs. The nest is made of grass and placed in crevices in rocks or walls. Lays 4 - 7 eggs. | + | Breeding season from March to August. Nests in loose colonies or isolated pairs. The domed nest is made of grass and placed in crevices in rocks or walls. Lays 4 - 7 eggs. |
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | + | Their diet consists mostly of seeds and some berries. Nestlings are fed with invertebrates, especially termites, caterpillars, beetles and grasshoppers. They forage on or near the ground in low vegetation. | |
| − | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 |
| + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2016) | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | + | {{GSearch|"Petronia petronia" {{!}} "Rock Sparrow" -"pale" -"chestnut" -"pipit" -"Mellomskarv" -"yellow"}} | |
| − | {{ | + | {{GS-checked}}1 |
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| − | + | <br /> | |
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Petronia]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Petronia]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:06, 10 May 2023
Alternative names: Rock Petronia; Common Rock-Sparrow; Eurasian Rock-Sparrow; European Rock-Sparrow; Streaked Rock-Sparrow
- Petronia petronia
Identification
14 - 15.5cm (5½-6 in). A stout sparrow with a short tail and a robout bill:
- Strong white supercilium and weaker crown stripe
- Patterned brown back and wings
- Diagnostic yellow throat-spot but often difficult to see
- In flight broad wings and white-tipped tail characteristic
Sexes similar. Juveniles are browner than adults and have no yellow throat-spot.
Distribution
Western north Africa, Spain, and Portugal across southern Europe and through central Asia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Six or sometimes seven subspecies are recognized: [1]2]
- P. p. petronia (madeirensis):
- Canary Islands, Madeira and Europe to Bulgaria and western Asia Minor
- P. p. barbara:
- P. p. puteicola:
- P. p. exigua:
- P. p. kirhizica:
- Lower Volga River Valley to Turgay depression and Aral Sea
- P. p. intermedia:
- Transcaspia to eastern Iran, northern Afghanistan, Pamirs and western Kunlun Shan Mountains
- P. p. brevirostris:
Kirhizica is usually merged in intermedia.
Habitat
Bare treeless country from rocky slopes and ravines to flat desert steppe. Also in open woodland or parkland and often in large open areas of cultivation, vineyards, olive groves or around old buildings. Occurs from sea-level up to 4800m.
Behaviour
They can come together in large flocks outside of the breeding season.
Breeding
Breeding season from March to August. Nests in loose colonies or isolated pairs. The domed nest is made of grass and placed in crevices in rocks or walls. Lays 4 - 7 eggs.
Diet
Their diet consists mostly of seeds and some berries. Nestlings are fed with invertebrates, especially termites, caterpillars, beetles and grasshoppers. They forage on or near the ground in low vegetation.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rock Sparrow. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rock_Sparrow
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
