Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is classified as Vulnerable as it is estimated to have a very small and restricted population. It is suspected to have declined: any evidence of a continuing decline would result in a reassessment at a higher category of extinction risk.
Population justification
The population has been estimated at fewer than 1,000 individuals (Ryan et al. 2009). The number of pairs is estimated to be c. 400, equivalent to c. 800 mature individuals (R. Porter in litt. 2016). To account for uncertainty, the population is placed here in the band of 250-999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population was previously suspected to be stable in the absence of any identified threats (R. Porter in litt. 2010). However, new information suggests that it may be experiencing declines after cyclones, and it is also subject to hunting for food which appears to be increasing (A. Saeed Suleiman in litt. 2020). Thus a decline is tentatively suspected (A. Saeed Suleiman in litt. 2016). Robustly establishing the current population size and current trend is a priority: evidence for a continuing decline would result in reassessment at a higher Red List category.
This species is found on the island of Abd al Kuri, Socotra Archipelago, Yemen (Kirwan 2008). Birds were found to be fairly common in the main settlement; however, most of the island lacks suitable habitat.
Individuals are thought to roost in vegetation in the foothills of limestone mountains (Ryan et al. 2009). Its diet is thought to include the seeds of grasses and small plants, and water is obtained almost totally from this diet (del Hoyo et al. 2009). Birds occur mainly in and around villages (A. Saeed Suleiman in litt. 2016); a flock of roughly 100 birds has been sighted scavenging amongst refuse (del Hoyo et al. 2020). The species occurs from sea level up to 570-745 m (del Hoyo et al. 2020).
The species is subject to children hunting it for food and natural disasters such as cyclones (A. Saeed Suleiman in litt. 2016). The threat of hunting, especially in autumn, may now be considered a serious threat given the small population and very restricted range (A. Saeed Sulieman in litt. 2020). Because this is one of only four passerines breeding on the island of Abd al Kuri (Porter and Suleiman 2013), this harvesting could therefore have a serious impact on its population (R. Porter in litt. 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in conservation sites throughout its range.
13-14 cm. Male is chestnut with grey upperparts, streaked on back, chestnut supercilium curving down behind ear-coverts, and blackish stripe curving around rear of ear-coverts. Upperwing is blackish to dark brown, feathers edged buffish to warm brown, lesser coverts chestnut, grey tips on median coverts, narrow buff tips on greater coverts, and small pale patch at base of primaries. Female is slightly smaller, with pale brown or warm buff colouring replacing chestnut colouring on the male. Similar spp. P. insularis has darker underparts and is slightly larger. See Kirwan (2008) for full description. Voice. Dry chirping calls, "cheep", "chee-sheep", "chip" and "jup".
Text account compilers
Martin, R., Fernando, E.
Contributors
Ashpole, J, Calvert, R., Jennings, M., Porter, R., Saeed Suleiman, A., Taylor, J. & Van Damme, K.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Abd al Kuri Sparrow Passer hemileucus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/abd-al-kuri-sparrow-passer-hemileucus on 23/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/11/2024.