- Desert Sparrow
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This article is about the Old World bird. For the North American bird, see Black-throated Sparrow.
Desert Sparrow Male Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Infraorder: Passerida Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Passeridae Genus: Passer Species: P. simplex Binomial name Passer simplex
(Lichtenstein, 1823)The three subspecies of Desert Sparrow The Desert Sparrow (Passer simplex) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in desert and sandy areas of northern and central Africa, with a distinct subspecies in areas of Iran and Russia sometimes called the Asian Desert Sparrow or Zarudny's Sparrow (Passer (simplex) zarudnyi).[2]
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.
This bird is becoming scarcer.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2009). "Passer simplex". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/149115.
- ^ Kirwan, Guy M.; Schweitzer, Manuel; Ayé, Raffael; Grieve, Andrew (2009). "Taxonomy, identification and status of Desert Sparrows". Dutch Birding 31: 139–158. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/60UbNI3GC.
External links
- Desert Sparrow at the Internet Bird Collection
Sparrows (family: Passeridae) Genus Passer Saxaul Sparrow • House Sparrow • Spanish Sparrow • Italian Sparrow • Sind Sparrow • Somali Sparrow • Russet Sparrow or Cinnamon Sparrow • Plain-backed Sparrow or Pegu Sparrow • Dead Sea Sparrow • Great Sparrow • Socotra Sparrow • Abd al-Kuri Sparrow • Kenya Sparrow • Kordofan Sparrow • Shelley's Sparrow • Iago Sparrow • Cape Sparrow • Northern Grey-headed Sparrow • Swainson's Sparrow • Parrot-billed Sparrow • Swahili Sparrow • Southern Grey-headed Sparrow • Desert Sparrow • Eurasian Tree Sparrow • Sudan Golden Sparrow • Arabian Golden Sparrow • Chestnut Sparrow • Passer predomesticusPetronia Carpospiza Montifringilla
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