The Desert Sparrow is a pale, sandy-colored sparrow perfectly camouflaged for its arid desert environment across North Africa and the Middle East. It is a true specialist of extreme desert habitats.
Where to spot
North Africa (e.g., Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Egypt) and the Middle East (e.g., Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran). Found in hyper-arid deserts with sparse vegetation.
How to spot
Look for its very pale, sandy plumage, which makes it blend in almost perfectly with the desert. Often found near scattered acacia trees or wadis. Its movements on the ground are key to spotting it.
When to spot
Year-round resident. Most active during the cooler hours of the day (early morning, late afternoon) to avoid intense midday heat.
Where to spot
North Africa (e.g., Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Egypt) and the Middle East (e.g., Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran). Found in hyper-arid deserts with sparse vegetation.
How to spot
Look for its very pale, sandy plumage, which makes it blend in almost perfectly with the desert. Often found near scattered acacia trees or wadis. Its movements on the ground are key to spotting it.
When to spot
Year-round resident. Most active during the cooler hours of the day (early morning, late afternoon) to avoid intense midday heat.
Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
Its pale plumage is an adaptation to desert life, helping it reflect heat and blend seamlessly with sandy landscapes.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Essential cookies are necessary for basic functionality, while analytical cookies help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it.
Cookie Preferences
Customize your privacy settings
Choose which cookies you want to allow. Necessary cookies are always enabled for the basic functionality of the website. You can always change your preferences later via the cookie settings in the footer.
Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.
Analytics Cookies
Help us understand how visitors use our website, so we can improve it.