Malta, Day Two, Maltese Sparrows

I had a free morning so did some more exploring.  I first visited the world famous Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Neolithic temple sites, two of the numerous temples on the island which date back to 5000 BC (Check out the Netflix series Ancient Apocalypse for some dodgy but entertaining pseudoscience that features these temples)  

I got a bit distracted from the archaeology as the temple ruins hosted breeding colonies of 'Maltese Sparrows'. The jury is still out on 'Maltese Sparrows', Ebird classifies them as Spanish Sparrows as does various local ornithological texts, but Birds of the World (also Cornell/Ebird) suggests that Italian Sparrows are also present on Malta and one of the most recent reviews into the matter by Massa et al (here) concluded that there is a cline-like situation between Italian and Spanish Sparrows which form a large hybrid zone from Southern Italy to Malta- with birds becoming progressively Spanish Sparrow like as you go south. Italian Sparrow itself could be an ancient hybrid (between House and Spanish Sparrow) although Massa et al suggests there is some evidence that Italian Sparrow originated as a distinct species from North Africa and expanded North (and has since become extinct from North Africa).  

So it's a bit messy and if I understand correctly we could have Italian and Spanish Sparrows here which certainly hybridise or otherwise the whole lot are just a big hybrid swarm with no pure Italian or Spanish sparrows remaining or pure birds were never here and colonising birds were from hybrid populations. Considering Malta forms the boundary between Spanish Sparrows in North Africa where Italian Sparrows are not present it seems to make sense that the hybrid wave moved through Malta first so indeed there could have been both pure Italian and Spanish Sparrows here at one point and there still might be. 

Anyway here's a few of them that were at the Temples- presumably these sparrows have also been here for the 5000 years the temples have. This isn't the best time of year to look at these sparrows as most of the research done on them is during the breeding season in summer plumage but most of the males were already in summer plumage and were seemingly holding territory (singing and visiting nest sites). Only males distinguishable as the females of House, Spanish and Italian are largely inseparable. 

Just heard from Nicholas Galea that 'pure' Spanish Sparrows do occur in Malta on migration in March and October which adds another fascinating layer to this situation.  

Update 190123- see comment below for an even bigger twist to the plot. Pre-print on paper referred to in comment here. According to this work the Maltese Sparrows are indeed a population of Italian Sparrows and are cited as being an example of where hybridisation is a pervasive evolutionary force that generates new species. If I understand the paper correctly Italian Sparrows are indeed an ancient hybrid of House and Spanish Sparrow (formed when House Sparrows colonised the Mediterranean) and in Malta they just have a bit more Spanish Sparrow genes in them but are still a 'stable species unit' aligned with other populations of Italian Sparrows. 

A rather Spanish looking 'Maltese Sparrow' (above and below). Considering the time of year presumably these already dense markings will intensify further. 

A bird coming out of winter plumage with grey tips to crown and reduced black markings on breast. This is why it's not the best time of year to look at these birds as reduced black markings on the upperparts are a feature of Italian Sparrows and also winter plumaged Spanish Sparrows. However the grey head markings are perhaps a good indication of the extent of the winter ware to summer plumage.  

Another Spanish looking Maltese

A rather Italian looking Maltese Sparrow with black mainly confined to the bib with reduced black on the underparts- reduced here to relatively light streaking. The lack of grey markings on the crown could indicate this birds is already approaching summer plumage.

A rather Spanish looking one

A very Spanish looking one with very dense underpart markings

Still transitioning into summer plumage but this is very Italian looking (but that fine underpart streaking could well intensify as summer plumage develops more)

The puffed up underpart feathers make this look even more Italian like

Also feeding on the temple ruins were Black Redstart (above) and Robin (below)

The sound of Zitting Cisticolas is ubiquitous across the island but they are not that easy to see or photograph on the deck

Mnajdra Temple- the sparrows were getting in between the blocks

I did a bit of exploring around the surrounding garigue. There were a couple of Blue Rock Thrush. Mnajdra Temple is in the background under the weathering protection dome. 

After visiting the temples I did a quick bit of exploring along the amazing coastline of this area towards Dingli Cliffs. Absolutely stunning landscape (above and below). The gentle sloping green areas are the clay areas which are fertile and are farmed in terraces. Must be a migrant mecca at the right times of year.