During the Autumn at Sagres, I had my first encounters with this uncommon sparrow species. Flocks of up to forty birds were seen in that area, usually in flight though I did manage some distant views of the birds in trees. On visits to the Alentejo, I have hoped to see them, but it has not been the case and the Rock Sparrow has remained a bird I need to look at closer. So today's study day took place in an area where I have searched in previous years without success, all the time accepting the assurance of other birders that they can be found. A very interesting sideline to this quest is the fact that over the time spent today, I found four Sparrow species - House, Tree, Spanish and Rock Sparrow in the one location. I wonder how many other European sites hold four Sparrow species? With my newly acquired knowledge from Sagres, it was only a matter of time and patience before I begun hearing the flight call - a short 'vui' from up to six birds flying into nearby trees. The flight call then changes to a much more drawn out 'sleeit' song, which at first I found confusing with Goldfinch but luckily narrowed it down to one bird sitting in a tree. The first noticeable thing you see on the Rock Sparrow are the broad head stripes in brown and cream. A cream stripe runs from around the eye to the back of the head. The pale breast has long streaked lines, again in a browny shade. The bill is a very prominent feature - stout, with a pinkish lower mandible and a darker upper. What really struck me was the gape of the bill when opened. This bird was calling frequently and the image below, attempts to show the wide open bill, reminiscent of a Corn Bunting, for example. The undertail is an interesting feature consisting of horizontal brown bars on white, with a white terminal band on an adult bird. This looks like an adult bird by the tail and should also have a small yellow spot on the chin, though difficult to see with the head at rest, as above. Around 1cm larger than a House Sparrow, the Rock Sparrow does look a larger bird especially due to the head and bill.
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