Serinus syriacus

The Syrian Serin is classified as Vulnerable (VU) because its breeding population in Israel is very small (less than 250) and declining. It is also globally Vulnerable (VU). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Near Threatened (NT). The change in its threat category reflects the deterioration in the population as well as changes in assessment methods and the consideration of marginal populations at the limit of their global range. The species is endemic to our region and considerable parts of the global population breeds on Mt. Hermon and overwinters throughout the Negev.

Habitats	Mountainous Forest
Presence In Israel	Summer, Winter Visitor
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Short Range / Partial
Zoographical Zones	Alpine
Landscape Types	Mountainous
Vegetation Types	Mediterranean Maquis, Mediterranean Garrigue
Vegetation Densities	Medium, High
Nest Locations	Tree, Bushes
Diet Types	Herbivore
Foraging Grounds	Ground, Trees and Shrubs
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Hunting and trapping, Habitat loss and fragmentation

The Syrian Serin is a small finch, endemic to our region. The male has a yellow forehead, belly and back and bluish-grey cheeks and nape. The female is a bit paler and more streaked.

About 100-150 pairs of Syrian Serin breed on Mt. Hermon, at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,800 meters (Israeli & Perlman 2013). In the 1980s, the population was estimated at about 180 pairs (Ezov 1986). In winter, small numbers can be seen in Judea, Samaria, in the Negev, the Arava and the Eilat Mountains.

The Syrian Serin inhabits rocky mountain slopes with sparse deciduous woodland.

The Syrian Serin is endemic to our region. It nests in the in the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains, Mt. Hermon and the Edom Mountains. The populations migrate south in summer, including to the Negev and the Sinai Peninsula.

The Syrian Serin is threatened by development work at the upper Mt. Hermon, including roadbuilding, ski run development and other installations. It is also trapped for the pet trade. In the Moab and Edom mountains in Jordan, it has been affected by overgrazing and a series of drought years (BirdLife 2017).

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

Development work on Mt. Hermon should be reduced and supervised to minimize harm to natural habitats.

Development work on Mt. Hermon should be reduced and supervised to minimize harm to natural habitats.

• ישראלי, נ. ופרלמן, י. 2013. סיכום סקר עופות מקננים בחרמון. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.
• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
• שוחט, א., פרלמן, י., שני, א., עובדיה, ע., ישראלי, נ., פרלמן, ג. ואלון, ד. 2009. טיבוע ציפורים ארוך טווח בחרמון: תמורות בהרכב החברה ובדינאמיקה של אוכלוסיות.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International