Photo: Dûrzan cîrano / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dead Sea Sparrow
Passer moabiticus
Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
The Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 16.5 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 moabiticus
Where it lives
South-central subtropical Palearctic in riparian vegetation and irrigation: southern Turkey and Cyprus to southwestern Afghanistan, in south to eastern Israel, western Jordan, central Iraq and southwestern Iran
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dead Sea Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Dead Sea Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus) is a member of the Passeridae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sc subtropical Palearctic in riparian vegetation and irrigation: s Turkey and Cyprus to sw Afghanistan, in s to e Israel, w Jordan, c Iraq and sw Iran.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 188,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dead Sea Sparrow?
The Dead Sea Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 16.5 g.
Where does the Dead Sea Sparrow live?
The Dead Sea Sparrow is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sc subtropical Palearctic in riparian vegetation and irrigation: s Turkey and Cyprus to sw Afghanistan, in s to e Israel, w Jordan, c Iraq and sw Iran, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Dead Sea Sparrow belong to?
The Dead Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dead Sea Sparrow eat?
The Dead Sea Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Dead Sea Sparrow migrate?
The Dead Sea Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dead Sea 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 Dead Sea Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Dead Sea Sparrow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Dead Sea Sparrow's range?
The Dead Sea Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 188,000 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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