Abd al-Kuri sparrow

{{Short description|Species of bird}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Speciesbox

| image=Passer hemileucus.jpg

| image_caption=Female (above) and male (below) in an illustration by Henrik Grönvold

| status = VU

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=Passer hemileucus |volume=2016 |page=e.T22735599A95115321 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22735599A95115321.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| taxon = Passer hemileucus

| authority = Ogilvie-Grant & Forbes, 1899

| range_map = Socotra - Abd Al Kuri.PNG

| range_map_caption = Distribution

}}

The Abd al-Kuri sparrow (Passer hemileucus) is a passerine bird endemic to the small island of Abd al Kuri (also spelled several other ways) in the Socotra archipelago of the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa. Though this species was originally described as a distinct species, it was subsequently considered conspecific with the Socotra sparrow.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|p=92}} A study by Guy Kirwan showed significant differences from the Socotra sparrow, and that the two sparrows might even have different origins.{{cite journal|last=Kirwan|first=Guy M.|year=2008|title=Studies of Socotran Birds III. Morphological and mensural evidence for a 'new' species in the Rufous Sparrow Passer motitensis complex endemic to the island of Abd 'Al Kuri, with the validation of Passer insularis Sclater & Hartlaub, 1881|journal=Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club|volume=128|issue=2|pages=83–93}} On the evidence that it is morphologically distinct, BirdLife International (and hence the IUCN Red List) recognised it as a species,{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=32537&m=0|title=Species factsheet: Passer hemileucus|author=BirdLife International|year=2010|access-date=24 June 2010}} and it was listed in the IOC World Bird List from December 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/updates-spp.html|title=Species Updates – IOC Version 2.3|work=IOC World Bird List Version 2.9|access-date=8 August 2011|date=10 July 2011|editor=Gill, F.|editor2=Donsker, D.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724185651/http://www.worldbirdnames.org/updates-spp.html|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead}} It has a very restricted distribution, and a population of under 1,000 individuals, so despite not having any known threats it is considered a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List.