Rock sparrow / Steinsperling (Petronia petronia)

Steinsperling, Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira. 2023-03-10 15.29.04 Madeira
Classification: Genus Petronia; Family Sparrows (Passeridae)
General: The rock sparrow or rock petronia (Petronia petronia) is a small passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is the only member of the genus Petronia. It breeds on barren rocky hills from the Iberian peninsula and western north Africa across southern Europe and through the Palearctic Siberia and north and central China. It is largely resident in the west of its range, but Asian birds migrate to more southerly areas, or move down the mountains. [more]
Calls: Large repertoire of calls of which many recalls Passer, but all with a nasal timbre. Main contact call a nasal "peey-u", rising sharply in pitch and then ending one note lower on the last syllable. Recalls alarm call of Serin in timbre. Sometimes given with only the first syllable. Also a short and explosive "pit", and many less distinct calls when interacting. [Link]
Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=28-32 cm, weight=26-35 g

First documented observation : 2023-03-10 in Madeira.