Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Saxaul Sparrow
Passer ammodendri
Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
The Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 28.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passeridae Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches
- Genus Passer
- Species ammodendri
Where it lives
Temperate central Palearctic in saxaul and riparian scrub, fields: patchily southern Kazakhstan, northern Xinjiang (northwestern China) and southern, central Mongolia, southern in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to northern Gansu, western Inner Mongolia and northern Ningxia (north-central China)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.9 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Saxaul Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Saxaul Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri) belongs to the Passeridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL temperate c Palearctic in saxaul and riparian scrub, fields: patchily s Kazakhstan, n Xinjiang (nw China) and s, c Mongolia, s in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to n Gansu, w Inner Mongolia and n Ningxia (nc China).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.9 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Saxaul Sparrow?
The Saxaul Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 28.9 g.
Where does the Saxaul Sparrow live?
The Saxaul Sparrow is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL temperate c Palearctic in saxaul and riparian scrub, fields: patchily s Kazakhstan, n Xinjiang (nw China) and s, c Mongolia, s in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to n Gansu, w Inner Mongolia and n Ningxia (nc China), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Saxaul Sparrow belong to?
The Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Saxaul Sparrow eat?
The Saxaul Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Saxaul Sparrow migrate?
The Saxaul Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Saxaul Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Saxaul Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Saxaul Sparrow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Saxaul Sparrow's range?
The Saxaul Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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