Common name: Spanish Sparrow.
Scientific name: Passer hispaniolensis (Temminck, 1820)
Family: Passeridae
Distribution and Habitat: It occurs in the Madeira Archipelago, nesting in the Porto Santo and Madeira islands. It may be found in habitats made available in human populated areas, like urban gardens and squares.
Description: This bird has an accentuated sexual dimorphism. The males head is brown, the lateral underparts are white and the front part of the neck and chest is black. The female is more discreet and has a brownish colouration.
Conservation statute and Threats: Vulnerable species. Population with a small number of individuals that presents a limited area of occurrence.
Observations: This species suffered a great decline in the Madeira Island, where it became less abundant, possibly threatened by accidental poisoning by agricultural pesticides.
