Russet sparrow
Russet sparrow | |
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Male (above) and female (below) in Aichi Prefecture, Japan | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Passeridae |
Genus: | Passer |
Species: | P. cinnamomeus
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Binomial name | |
Passer cinnamomeus (Gould, 1836)
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Distribution of russet sparrow:
Summer range
Winter range
Year-round range
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Synonyms | |
The russet sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus), also called the cinnamon or cinnamon tree sparrow, is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. A chunky little seed-eating bird with a thick bill, it has a body length of 14 to 15 cm (5.5–5.9 in). Its plumage is mainly warm rufous above and grey below. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the plumage of both sexes patterned similarly to that of the corresponding sex of house sparrow. Its vocalisations are sweet and musical chirps, which when strung together form a song.
Three
This sparrow feeds mainly on the
Taxonomy
The English ornithologist
The russet sparrow has usually been placed in the genus Passer, and within this genus it is seen as a part of the "Palearctic black-bibbed sparrow" group, which includes the Eurasian tree sparrow as well as the house sparrow. It has generally been seen as a close relation of the house sparrow, and Richard Meinertzhagen even considered it to be the same species as the Somali sparrow, one of the house sparrow's closest relatives.[11][12]
However, studies of
Thirteen
Description
The russet sparrow is a small chunky bird, with plumage warm rufous in overall colour. It is a medium-sized sparrow at 14 to 15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) and 18 to 22.5 grams (0.63–0.79 oz).[11][17] It has a thick bill suited to eating seeds, which is black on the breeding male, horn-coloured on the non-breeding male, and yellowish with a dark tip on the female.[15] Wingspans for males range between 6.8 to 8.2 cm (2.7–3.2 in) and those for females from 6.7 to 7.7 cm (2.6–3.0 in). Tail, bill, and tarsus lengths are 4.3 to 5.1 cm (1.7–2.0 in), 1.1 to 1.3 cm (0.43–0.51 in), and 1.6 to 1.8 cm (0.63–0.71 in), respectively.[11][17]
Measurements for the russet sparrow vary geographically, between the three subspecies, and also within the Himalayan subspecies cinnamomeus. The subspecies cinnamomeus is generally larger than the others, and within this form there is a tendency for birds at higher altitudes to be larger, and a clinal variation in size with the smallest birds in the west of the range and the largest in the east.[18]
The iris is chestnut in colour.[21] The legs of both sexes are pale brown to pinkish-brown.[15] The flight of all sparrows is swift,[22] and that of the russet sparrow is described as swifter and more direct than that of the Eurasian tree sparrow.[23]
Plumage
The sexes differ, or are dimorphic, in their plumage, and have a similar pattern to that in the corresponding sex of house sparrow.[11][17] There is some variation between the three subspecies, especially in the colouration of the underparts. Birds of the subspecies rutilans are off-white on their cheeks and the sides of their necks, and have pale grey underparts.[17] Birds of the subspecies intensior have a pale yellow wash on their underparts and cheeks, as well as darker upperparts, while those of the subspecies cinnamomeus have a heavy yellow tinge to their underparts.[17][24]
Moult is poorly recorded, the only records coming from Sakhalin and Himachal Pradesh. In Sakhalin, moult occurs in August and September, between the breeding season and migration.[25] In Himachal Pradesh, aviculturalist G. A. Perreau observed captive and wild birds and reported that they were yellow from December to spring and whitish during the remainder of the year, a pattern which may be atypical.[26][27][28]
The breeding male is bright
The female has mostly pale brown upperparts, and pale grey underparts, so it resembles the female house sparrow. It differs from the house sparrow in its slightly darker, russet-tinged plumage. It has a conspicuous cream supercilium from above its eye nearly around its head, and a bold dark brown stripe through its eye. It has mostly greyish brown wings and a back streaked with black and buff.[11][17] The juvenile is similar to the female, though more pale and sandy. As the male reaches its first winter, it resembles the adult, differing in less bold chestnut and a dusky bib.[11][17]
Voice
The russet sparrow's vocalisations are described by most sources as "the sweetest and most musical" of any sparrow.[25] Its basic call is a cheep or chilp, similar to that of other sparrows. This call is monosyllabic, unlike the house sparrow's chirrup call, and is softer than that of the other sparrows.[25] This call is given as a flight call, or by displaying males. Recorded variations include a chweep given by males at the nest and a trilled cheeep.[25] Sometimes the male strings calls together and sings them in a strident tone, to create a sort of short song, transcribed as cheep chirrup cheeweep or chreet-chreet-chreet. The song is interspersed with sibilant chu-swik notes similar to those of the white wagtail.[25][32] A thin swee swee vocalisation not unlike that of an Indian robin has been reported, but the context of this call is unrecorded.[25][32] During territorial disputes, males give a rapid chit-chit-chit call.[25]
Distribution and habitat
The russet sparrow is found in parts of eastern Asia and in the Himalayas. It is not known whether its distribution is continuous between these two areas, since the political sensitivity of the Brahmaputra River's valley near the China-India border makes the area less accessible to ornithologists.[18] In the Himalayas the russet sparrow breeds from the far northeast of India through southeastern Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh to Kashmir and Nuristan in Afghanistan.[18] Here, the russet sparrow makes short movements to lower altitudes between November and April in many areas.[32]
In eastern Asia, the russet sparrow is found in
The russet sparrow appears to be abundant in most habitats across most of its very large range,
Breeding takes place in
In the Himalayas, it is strongly associated with
Behaviour
In many aspects of its behaviour, the russet sparrow is similar to the house and Eurasian tree sparrows. Like them, it feeds on the ground, but spends most of its time perching on branches.[43] Unlike those species, it prefers open, exposed branches for perching.[17] The russet sparrow is described as shy and wary by some observers, but J. Denis Summers-Smith found it approachable in Indian hill stations.[42] Flocking russet sparrows feed close to the ground, moving forward as birds from the rear of a flock move to the front, in what is called "roller feeding".[43]
Outside its breeding season, the russet sparrow is gregarious and forms flocks to find food, though it infrequently associates with other birds.[34][44] Wintering flocks tend to keep away from human habitation. The russet sparrow is also social at night during the winter, and it forms large communal roosts in trees and bushes. In the breeding season, the female roosts in the nests and the male nests in foliage nearby.[43]
The adult russet sparrow is mostly a seed-eater, eating the seeds of herbs and weeds as well as rice, barley, and other grains. Berries, such as those of the kingore (certain Berberis spp.), are also eaten when available.[25] Nestlings are fed mostly on insects, especially caterpillars and larval beetles obtained on trees and flying insects caught by aerial pursuit.[25][40] During the breeding season adults also consume insects.[25][39]
Mortality rates in the russet sparrow have not been studied, but it is known that many young birds die from
Breeding
The russet sparrow's
The male chooses the nest site, and uses it for his courtship display, spending much time calling nearby. When a female comes near a male at his nest the male begins to display by raising his head, drooping his wings, pushing his chest forward, and lowering his tail. He then bows up and down in front of the female, who will lunge and then fly away if unreceptive.[49] Both sexes take part in building the nest, which consists of a loose, untidy bunch of dry grass which fills the nesting cavity, lined with fur and feathers for warmth.[32][49][52]
Relationships with humans
In parts of the range, the russet sparrow inhabits towns, and in most of its range, it occurs near cultivation, and is a minor pest of agriculture. Though it damages crops, it also feeds its nestlings largely on insect pests.[42][43] In China, the russet sparrow has been recorded as a captive bird, kept with the Eurasian tree sparrow.[44] In Japan it was eaten in the 1870s and sold in the Yokohama game market.[56] The russet sparrow is known well enough in the Himalayas that in most languages it has a different vernacular name from the Eurasian tree sparrow. Examples of these vernacular names include lal gouriya in Hindi and kang-che-go-ma in Tibetan.[57] The Japanese artist Hokusai portrayed the russet sparrow, and due to this, it has appeared on postage stamps featuring Japanese art in Japan, The Gambia, and Guyana.[58]
References
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- ^ a b Gould, J. (1836). "Characters of several new species of Insessorial Birds, including a new genus (Stenorhynchus)". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (36): 185–187. Dated 1835 on the title page but published in 1836.
- ^ Sclater, P. L. (1893). "List of the dates of delivery of the sheets of the 'Proceedings' of the Zoological Society of London, from the commencement in 1830 to 1859 inclusive". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 436–440.
- ^ .
- ^ Jobling 2009, p. 108
- ^ Temminck, Coenraad Jacob (1838). Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon (in French). Vol. 3. Paris: F.G. Levrault. Plate 588, Fig. 2. The 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 parts, 1820-1839
- ^ Dickinson, E. C. (2001). "Systematic notes on Asian birds. 9. The Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées of Temminck & Laugier (1820–1839)". Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden. 335: 7–53.
- S2CID 216264691. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-9568611-2-2.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2017). "Old World sparrows, snowfinches, weavers". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Summers-Smith 1988, pp. 205–206
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- ^ S2CID 21782750. Archived from the original(PDF) on 21 July 2011.
- ^ González, Javier; Siow, Melanie; Garcia-del-Rey, Eduardo; Delgado, Guillermo; Wink, Michael (2008). Phylogenetic relationships of the Cape Verde Sparrow based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (PDF). Systematics 2008, Göttingen. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-84-96553-50-7.
- ^ Summers-Smith 1988, pp. 279–280, 288–290
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Clement, Harris & Davis 1993, pp. 450–451
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Summers-Smith 1988, pp. 206–210
- ^ Rand & Fleming 1957, pp. 200–201
- ^ Bangs, Outram (1930). "Types of Birds Now in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy. LXX.
- ^ a b Gee & Moffet 1917, p. 210
- ^ Clement, Harris & Davis 1993, p. 4
- ^ a b c Baker 1926, p. 181
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Summers-Smith 1988, p. 214
- ^ Perreau, G. A. (1910). "Change of Plumage in the Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus)". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. XIX (4): 986–988.
- ^ Perreau, G. A. (May 1909). "The Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow". The Avicultural Magazine. new series. VII (7): 201–205.
- ^ Teschemaker, W. E. (May 1909). "On the Nesting of the Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow". The Avicultural Magazine. new series. VII (7): 205–208.
- ^ Jerdon 1863, p. 365
- ^ Oates 1890, p. 241
- ^ a b Flint et al. 1984, pp. 295–296
- ^ a b c d e Ali & Ripley 1999, pp. 78–79
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- ^ a b Roberts 1992, pp. 480–481
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- ^ a b Chae, Hee-Young (1997). "Feeding Behavior of the Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans in Two Different Habitats" (PDF). Korean Journal of Ecology. 20 (6): 405–411. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2011.
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- ^ Summers-Smith 1988, pp. 214–215
- ^ a b c Summers-Smith 1992, pp. 100–103
- ^ a b c d Summers-Smith 1988, pp. 211–212
- ^ a b Vaughan & Jones 1913, pp. 168–169
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- doi:10.2326/osj.1.117. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 November 2003.
- ^ Takagi, Masaoki; Takahashi, Mitsuhiko. "Three passerine birds bred in the nests of black kites" (PDF). Strix. 15: 127–129. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
- ^ a b Hume & Oates 1890, pp. 164–165
- ^ Whistler 1949, p. 229
- ^ Ogilvie-Grant 1912, pp. 206–207
- ^ Lowther, Peter E. (25 November 2009). "Host list of avian brood parasites 2: Cuculiformes; Cuculidae" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
- ^ Blakiston & Pryer 1878, p. 244
- ^ Anonymous (1998). "Vernacular Names of the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent" (PDF). Buceros. 3 (1). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2010.
- ^ Scharning, Kjell. "Russet Sparrow stamps". Theme Birds on Stamps. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- Works cited
- ISBN 978-0-19-565943-6.
- Baker, E. C. Stuart (1926). Fauna of British India: Birds. Vol. III (2nd ed.). London: Taylor and Francis.
- Blakiston, T.; Pryer, H. (July 1878). "A Catalogue of the Birds of Japan". The Ibis. 4th series. 2.
- Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan; Davis, John (1993). Finches and Sparrows: an Identification Guide. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-03424-9.
- Flint, Vladimir E.; Boehme, R. L.; Kostin, Y. V.; Kuznetsov, A. A. (1984). A Field Guide to the Birds of the USSR including Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
- Gee, N. Gist; Moffet, Lacy I. (1917). A Key to the Birds of the Lower Yangtse Valley, with Popular Descriptions of the Species Commonly Seen. Shanghai: Shanghai Mercury.
- Hume, Allan O.; Oates, Eugene William (1890). The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds. Vol. II (2nd ed.). London: R. H. Porter.
- . Vol. II—Part I. Calcutta: Military Orphan Press.
- Jobling, James A. (2009). Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- Oates, Eugene W. (1890). Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma: Birds. Vol. II. London: Taylor and Francis.
- Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. (1912). Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British museum (Natural history) Volume V: Carinatæ (Passeriformes completed). London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History).
- Rand, Austin L.; Fleming, Robert L. (1957). "Birds from Nepal". Fieldiana: Zoology. 41 (1).
- Robson, Craig (2004). A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand. New Holland Press. ISBN 978-1-84330-921-5.
- Roberts, Tom J. (1992). The Birds of Pakistan. Volume 2: Passeriformes: Pittas to Buntings. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-577405-4.
- Summers-Smith, J. Denis (1988). The Sparrows: a study of the genus Passer. illustrated by Robert Gillmor. Calton, Staffs, England: T. & A. D. Poyser. ISBN 978-0-85661-048-6.
- Summers-Smith, J. Denis (1992). In Search of Sparrows. illustrated by Euan Dunn. London: T. & A. D. Poyser. ISBN 978-0-85661-073-8.
- Vaughan, R. E.; Jones, K. H. (1913). "On the Birds of South-eastern China IV". The Ibis. 10th series. 1.
- Whistler, Hugh (1949). Popular Handbook of Indian Birds (4th ed.). London: Gurney and Jackson.
External links
- Russet sparrow at the Internet Bird Collection
- Recording of the russet sparrow's calls