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24

Rock Sparrow

(Petronia petronia)
German name(s): "Steinsperling", "Steinsperling-petronia"
Size: 14-16 cm
Weight: 26-39 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Rock Sparrow at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "petronia"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Rock Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2013]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Rock Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2014]

Lateral view of a Rock Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]

Near-dorsal view of a Rock Sparrow looking backwards (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Rock Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Two Rock Sparrows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2014]

Flock of huddling Rock Sparrows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2014]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Rock Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Badajoz, Spain, November 2021]

Lateral view of a juvenile Rock Sparrow; note the pale cap and bill (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]

Small group of Rock Sparrows, with a juvenile at top right (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]

Behaviour

Rock Sparrows are very sociable birds and are often found in - possibly very large - flocks.

Small group of Rock Sparrows preening collectively (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Portugal, March 2019]

Food, Diet

Rock Sparrows are mostly seed-eaters, but they will also take fruit and also invertebrates, which they also feed to their young.

Rock Sparrows feeding in grain stubble (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

rockspr_jp_20200515.m4a petronia
(Portugal)
Begging calls(?) juvenile + bkgd © JP
rockspr_jp_20180603.m4a petronia
(Portugal)
? © JP

More Rock Sparrow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.