Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) - HBW 14, p. 794

Taxonomy: Fringilla Italiae Vieillot, 1817, Italy.
Forms a superspecies with P. domesticus and P. hispaniolensis, and the three sometimes considered conspecific. Hybridizes with former in N of range (along the line of the Alps) and with latter in S (rather broader zone S of Naples, possibly extending as far S as Malta and even Pantelleria). Has been treated variously as a race of one or other of those, as a stabilized hybrid between them, and as an independent species of N African origin that subsequently spread to Italy and became extinct in N African area of its origin. Appears distinctive in plumage, and treatment as distinct species based on argument that speciation of animals can occur only through geographical isolation, and not by hybridization. Although hybridization hypothesis plausible, and while origin remains uncertain, this taxon is most conveniently treated, as is currently common practice, as a separate species on grounds that population is stable and has resulted from events long past. Populations in Corsica, Sicily and Crete phenotypically similar to present species and included within it. Monotypic.