Oriental (Indian) House Sparrow
Passer (domesticus) indicus

(Above) Al Ruwais, Qatar, 23 November 2013. Photograph © Otto Samwald. All rights reserved.

The status of House Sparrows in Qatar is uncertain. This male appears to be of the indicus group due to the clean white ear cheeks contrasting with the grey underside - and is possibly the first documented occurence of the indicus group in Qatar.

Whether both western and oriental groups of House Sparrow are represented in Qatar is unknown, and obviously a cause for further field investigation.

• Qatar: “As far as I am aware there has been no record [of indicus] in Qatar or Bahrain. However, it is present in the UAE and I understand its range is expanding.” (Jamie Buchan, pers. comm.)
• Oman: “All House Sparrows occurring in Oman are of the indicus group. There are two forms documented in the Oman Bird List, ed 7. These are P. d. hufafae and P. d. indicus.” (Simon Tull, pers. comm.)
• UAE: “More than one subspecies [of House Sparrow] occurs. Indian House Sparrow Passer (domesticus) indicus is an abundant resident, range expanding.” (Pedersen, T & Aspinall, SJ (comp.) 2011. EBRC Annotated Checklist of the birds of the United Arab Emirates)
  

Porter R. & Aspinall S. in Birds of the Middle East (2010, 2nd edition) state:

“Indian House Sparrow Passer domsticus indicus (L14.5) Smaller than very similar House Sparrow, males with pale, almost white underparts, strikingly white cheeks, chestnut of back accentuating dark streaking; relatively smaller black bill. Female essentially indeterminate … Resident S. Israel, S. Palestine, much of Arabia (possibly not SW) east to SE Iran. Race hufufae sometimes included in indicus group occurs E. Arabia (Saudi Arabia to Oman) is also small, but much paler and greyer with less chestnut.” ... “House Sparrow Passer domsticus (L15) Widespread, familiar.”

I would appreciate comments on the racial identity of the bird photographed above, though I understand this is a vexed topic!