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House Sparrow

Passer domesticusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)
House Sparrow Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Cone
  • Eye Color: Hazel brown.
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Capped, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown Color: Gray
  • Forehead Color: Gray
  • Nape Color: Red-brown
  • Throat Color: Black
  • Cere color: No Data
House Sparrow Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 14-17 cm (5.5-6.5 in)
  • Weight: 28 g (1 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Black, Gray, Buff
  • Underparts: Pale Gray
  • Upperparts: Red-brown with black and buff streaking.
  • Back Pattern: Striped or streaked
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
House Sparrow Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swift bounding flight., Alternates several rapid wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
  • Wingspan Range: 24-25 cm (9.5-10 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Brown
  • Under Tail: Gray
  • Leg Color: Pink-brown
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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Passer domesticus
Length5.5 - 6.5 Inches
Wingspan9.75 Inches

House Sparrow

House Sparrow: Medium-sized, stocky sparrow with black-streaked brown upperparts and pale gray underparts. Wings are brown with single white bar. Cheeks and crown are pale gray, contrasting with black throat, upper breast, and bill. Legs are shorter and black bill is thicker than in native sparrows.

● Song: "cheep-cheep-cheep"

● Foraging & Feeding: House Sparrow: Diet consists of insects, seeds, and fruits; forages on the ground, in trees and shrubs, usually in urban and rural areas.

● Breeding & nesting: House Sparrow: Three to seven blue or green eggs, spotted with gray and brown, are laid in a loose nest made of grass, feathers, strips of paper, string, and similar debris, and built in a man-made or natural cavity; also nests in bird boxes. Incubation ranges from 10 to 14 days and is carried out mostly by the female.

● Similar species: House Sparrow: Eurasian Tree Sparrow has a black spot on ear coverts and an entirely brown crown. Unstreaked, gray underparts and large, pale bill distinguishes the female from other sparrows.

Flight Pattern

Swift bounding flight., Alternates several rapid wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
House Sparrow Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: House Sparrow: Native to Britain, northern Scandinavia, and northern Siberia to northern Africa, Arabia, India, and Burma. Introduced and established worldwide except in Antarctica; resident throughout temperate North America. Preferred habitats include cities, towns, and agricultural areas.
BreedingMonogamous, Some promiscuous
PopulationWidespread, Abundant
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight1 Ounces