Pale rockfinch

The pale rockfinch, sometimes referred to as the pale rock sparrow, is a small bird native to the Middle East and Central Asia. It is the sole species in the genus *Carpospiza*, although some experts argue that it should be classified under the genus *Petronia*. Despite some debate over its familial classification due to behavioral and physical similarities with finches, its tongue structure is distinctly sparrow-like.

The pale rockfinch can be found from eastern Turkey to Afghanistan and extends its range southward into the Arabian Peninsula and northern Africa, reaching as far as Ethiopia. This bird favors subtropical or tropical dry shrublands and temperate grasslands as its natural habitat.