The Dead Sea sparrow is a species of bird in the Old World sparrow family Passeridae, with one subspecies breeding in parts of the Middle East and another in western Afghanistan and eastern Iran. The eastern subspecies P. m. yatii is sometimes considered a separate species known as Yate's sparrow.
Region
Middle East and western Central Asia
Typical Environment
Found around the Dead Sea region (Jordan, Israel/Palestine) and along arid river systems and oases in Syria, Iraq, western to eastern Iran, and into western Afghanistan. It favors reedbeds, tamarisk thickets, and irrigated farmland adjacent to permanent or seasonal water. Populations are patchy, tracking wetlands, canals, and saline lake margins within deserts. It tolerates very hot, dry climates but typically stays within reach of cover and fresh water. Where suitable habitat exists, it can occur locally in loose colonies.
Altitude Range
Below sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small, sandy-toned sparrow specialized for life in arid river valleys and oases, it relies on dense tamarisk and reedbeds near water. It has two subspecies, with the eastern P. m. yatii of eastern Iran and western Afghanistan sometimes treated as a separate species (Yate’s sparrow). Males show a distinctive black mask and throat and often a subtle yellow wash in breeding season. Local populations can fluctuate with water levels and vegetation changes.
Eggs
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often forms small flocks outside the breeding season and nests in loose colonies where dense shrubs or reeds provide cover. Nests are placed low to mid-height in tamarisk, reeds, or similar vegetation, built from grasses and lined with softer material. Clutches are typically small, and both parents share incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a series of soft, high-pitched chirps and twitters delivered from low perches within cover. Calls include thin, sibilant tseep notes and brief rattling sequences, often given in social contexts near the colony.
Plumage
Fine, sandy-buff upperparts with subtle streaking, pale underparts, and a neat, compact appearance. Breeding males show a black mask and throat with a greyish crown and nape; females are paler and more uniform with minimal markings. Wings often show a pale panel and the tail is short and square-ended.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small seeds of grasses and weeds, supplemented by agricultural grains where available. During the breeding season it takes more insects and larvae to provide protein for growing chicks. It also consumes small invertebrates gleaned from foliage and the ground, and will visit irrigated fields and margins of canals.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground and within low shrubs or reedbeds close to water. Frequently uses the edges of wetlands, drainage ditches, and oasis vegetation, retreating quickly to dense cover when disturbed.
