Zarudny's sparrow (Passer zarudnyi), 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.[1] 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.[2] Consequently, Zarudny's sparrow is treated as a separate species by BirdLife International,[1] the IOC World Bird List,[3] and the Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive.[4]

Zarudny's sparrow
Illustration of a male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species:
P. zarudnyi
Binomial name
Passer zarudnyi
Pleske, 1896
The range of Zarudny's sparrow and the desert sparrow

References edit

  1. ^ a b c BirdLife International (2019). "Passer zarudnyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22736027A152064683. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22736027A152064683.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Kirwan, Guy M.; Schweitzer, Manuel; Ayé, Raffael; Grieve, Andrew (2009). "Taxonomy, identification and status of Desert Sparrows" (PDF). Dutch Birding. 31: 139–158. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012.
  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.