Animalia Life

Carpospiza brachydactyla
TAXONOMY
Petronia brachydactyla Bonaparte, 1850, Kunfuda, western Arabia. From its
BEHAVIOR
and form of nest has been considered to be a cardueline finch, but the horny palate and digestive tract confirm it belongs to Passeridae.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Moineau soulcie pвle; German: Arabian Steinsperling; Spanish: Gorriуn Palida.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.3–5.7 in (13.5–14.5 cm); 1.0–1.4 oz (28–40 g). Generally rather featureless pale brown bird with a short, stout bill. Long, triangular-shaped wings recall lark in flight. Sexes are similar, but juvenile paler, more sandy-colored.
DISTRIBUTION
Southwest Asia, withdrawing south in winter to Arabia and northeast Africa.
HABITAT
Sparsely vegetated regions up to 9,850 ft (3,000 m).
BEHAVIOR
Spends much of the time on the ground, forming flocks of up to several hundreds outside the breeding season that collect near water or fields of ripening grain.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Mainly seeds of grasses, including cultivated cereals, but takes some insects during breeding season. Nestlings are mainly reared on insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nest is open, untidy cup of twigs lined with softer material in bush or tree close to ground. Clutch is four to five eggs, incubation 13–14 days, fledging 11–16 days. Incubation by female only, but both sexes feed the young.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Locally common.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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