Snowfinches and Old World Sparrows
Socotra Sparrow
Passer insularis
LCLeast Concern Endemic to Yemen
- Family
- Snowfinches and Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The Socotra sparrow (Passer insularis) is a passerine bird endemic to the islands of Socotra, Samhah, and Darsah in the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa. The taxonomy of this species and its relatives is complex, with some authorities, including BirdLife International, recognising this species and the very similar Abd al-Kuri sparrow, as well as several from mainland Africa, as separate, and others lumping all these species and the probably unrelated Iago sparrow.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Socotra Islands (Socotra, Samha, and Darsa).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Socotra sparrow
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
