Passer domesticus
summer male
The House Sparrow is a familiar urban songbird. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have mainly chestnut-brown upperparts, streaked on the back, and chestnut-brown wings with a white wingbar. The crown, cheeks, and rump are gray. The throat and breast are black, and the underparts are otherwise pale gray. In winter, pale feather margins (which wear away) render the coloration muted at first. Adult females have mainly gray-buff upperparts, including the crown, with dark streaking on the back; the head has a buff supercilium. The underparts are pale gray-buff. Juveniles are similar to an adult female but the markings are less distinct.
Introduced by European settlers, the House Sparrow is now present year-round across much of the continent. It is almost always found in association with suburban and urban parks and gardens, as well as on farmland, where it congregates in flocks around buildings. In many situations it becomes very tame.
female
FACT FILE
LENGTH 6 in (15 cm)
FOOD Mostly seeds, but also some invertebrates in spring and summer
HABITAT Farmland, town parks, and gardens
STATUS Widespread and common resident
VOICE Song comprises a jumbled series of chirping notes. Calls include various chirps and shrill notes
