Pale Rockfinch
Carpospiza brachydactyla
A unique passerine that resembles a sparrow, finch, or lark, elongated and neat looking. Very plain overall with pale sandy-gray plumage, two rather prominent whitish wingbars, and a long conical bill. Breeds in semi-arid rocky hills and mountains, often nomadic. During migration found in a variety of open and arid habitats. Song is a distinctive cicada-like "Zzzziiiiiiiii… zzzziiiiiiiii…," given from a prominent low perch such as a bush, rock, or low tree.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Carpospiza brachydactyla
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passeridae
- Genus
- Carpospiza
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : sc Palearctic in arid bushy broken terrain: sc, se Turkey through Armenia and w, s Azerbaijan to Iran, s Turkmenistan and wc Afghanistan, patchily s through Syria to s Israel, to n, c Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Musandam Pen. (n, c, e Arabian Pen.)
- Non-breeding range
- to ne African semidesert and fields: s Arabian Pen., e Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and ne Ethiopia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Bubo bubo
Very large and powerful owl with obvious ear tufts, deep orange eyes, and finely streaked pale buffy underparts. Active mainly at night, but can be seen perched up on prominent lookouts at dusk, searching for prey. Can be found roosting during the day in shady canopy or caves. Pairs often duet, with the male giving a deep, resounding hoot and the female giving a hoarser, higher-pitched one. Inhabits a wide range of habitats, from forests to rocky canyons, but generally abundant nowhere.
Trocaz Pigeon
Columba trocaz
Endemic to the island of Madeira, where it is largely restricted to native laurel and tree heath forests. Body is largely gray with a purple-pink breast, and a noticeable silvery patch with black streaks on the side of the neck. The iris is yellow with a red ring around the eyes. Compare with the only other pigeon on the island, the Rock Pigeon; note differences in structure, color, and habitat preference. Song is a series of very low, groaning coos.
Caroline Islands Ground Dove
Pampusana kubaryi
Beautiful dark velvet dove with a pristine white face, throat, and breast. Endemic to Chuuk and Pohnpei, in the Caroline Islands group. Inhabits forested areas, including disturbed patches adjoining agriculture. Forages actively on or close to the ground. Unlike many other doves and pigeons, flushes more or less silently; typically flies only a short distance when flushed.
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