Species of the Month: The Russet Sparrow

Common Name: Russet Sparrow

Scientific Name: Passer cinnamomeus

IUCN Red List: Least Concern

CITES: Not Listed

Wildlife Protection Act of India (1972): Schedule IV

Population trend: Stable

Bird life is abundant in the Gadoli and Manda Khal Fee Simple Estates and recently I have been fortunate to have been seeing numerous Russet Sparrows in the Gadoli Fee Simple Estates. The species, like their cousins - the House Sparrow have reduced in numbers in many areas particularly due to the use of chemicals and pesticides in agriculture practices which enter the food web causing accumulation of toxins in the food chain.

Once, rare in the Gadoli and Manda Khal Fee Simple Estates, the Russet Sparrow is now being seen in increasing numbers specially in the vicinity of Gadoli House where our sustainable farming project is based, indicating that eliminating chemicals and pesticides in farming practices is key to healthy populations of birds specially those associated with agricultural areas.

The russet sparrow, also known as the cinnamon tree sparrow, belongs to the sparrow family Passeridae. It has a bright chestnut mantle which distinguishes it from the House Sparrow. It is found is open forests, forest edges and cultivation and is about 14.5 cm in length and loves singing. Three sub-species are recognized of which the subspecies cinnamomeus breeds in the Himalayas, where it is usually associated with terraced agriculture fields. It feeds on insects, small fruits and grain and is found between 500 to 2900 metres in the Himalayan tracts of Uttarakhand. The species breeds between April to August in the Himalayas and can lay upto two clutches of two to six eggs in a year.

Also known as lal gouriya in Hindi it is often considered a minor pest of agriculture crops though it also feeds on insects serving as a natural control for agriculture pests.

Conservation Action: The Gadoli and Manda Khal Wildlife Conservation Trust is working actively on-ground to protect coniferous and broadleaved habitats and implements no-go policies on chemicals and pesticides in its sustainable farming practices so that Russet Sparrow populations continue recovering in the Gadoli and Manda Khal Fee Simple Estates. Foot-patrols to curb illicit tree felling, lopping and illegal cutting of natural regeneration are conducted regularly to secure habitat for the species.

Sources:

IUCN Red List

CITES

WLPA(1972)