- Length
- 15 cm
- Weight
- 30 g
Presence in the Strait
Rare resident. First breeding record in 1999 at the vulture colony of Los Tallones and Carrizoso (Alcalá de los Gazules); previously, there was only one record of a bird ringed at Almoraima on 1.11.95. From the year 2000, birds have wintered between Tahivilla (Tarifa) and Zahara de los Atunes (Barbate) from October to the beginning of February.
Identification
Fairly similar to a female House Sparrow, but more robust, shorter tail with white patches on outer feathers (more visible in flight), broad pale supercilium between dark eye-stripe and crown-sides. Heavily streaked underparts. Males have an inconspicuous yellow spot on their breast.
Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.