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24

House Sparrow

(Passer domesticus)
German name(s): "Haussperling", "Hausspatz"
Size: 14-16 cm; wing span: 21-22.5 cm
Weight: 24-40 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See House Sparrow at Wikipedia .

NB: The name of the family of sparrows, "Passer", is used in the definition of passerine vs. non-passerine birds.

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "domesticus"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a male House Sparrow in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Acude de Vale de Gato, Coruche, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a male House Sparrow in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Acude do Furadouro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male House Sparrow in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2018]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male House Sparrow in transitional plumage; note the emerging black bib
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2016]

Frontal view of a male House Sparrow in transitional plumage; note the emerging black bib
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]

Lateral view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage; note the absence of an extensive black bib
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Lateral view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Lateral view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Lateral view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Dorsal view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

Near-frontal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, August 2020]

Lateral view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Lateral view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Lateral view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

Lateral view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia River, Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia River, Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Dorsal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, , Portugal, May 2020]

Dorsal view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]

PAIR

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male House Sparrow in breeding plumage, right, and a female, left (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Pair of House Sparrows in non-breeding plumage, male on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

House Sparrows in non-breeding plumage, male on the left, females on the right (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]

Pair of House Sparrows with the male in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Portugal, July 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Juvenile House Sparrow, back, being fed by a female, front (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Lateral view of a juvenile House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile(?) House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a fledgling House Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malinowo, Masovia, Poland, September 2016]

Race "balearoibericus"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Lateral view of a male House Sparrow in breeding plumage; note the black "bib" (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Soller, Mallorca, Spain, January 2018]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a male House Sparrow moulting into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]

Frontal view of a male House Sparrow in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Soller, Mallorca, Spain, January 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a male House Sparrow moulting into non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]

Male House Sparrows in non-breeding plumage, right, and a partial view of a female, left, foraging for seeds
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Soller, Mallorca, Spain, January 2018]

FEMALE

Lateral/ventral view of a female House Sparrow (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Split, Croatia, September 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female House Sparrow moulting out of old, worn plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]

House Sparrows scavenging in rubbish; female on the right (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Soller, Mallorca, Spain, January 2018]

Race "hufufae"

House Sparrows, race "hufufae", were photographed by us in Oman.

Possible hybrids

House Sparrow x Eurasian Tree Sparrow

House Sparrows and Eurasian Tree Sparrows can hybridize. J. Pires reports finding a potential hybrid sparrow in December 2018.

Although difficult to classify because probably moulting, this bird does not fit the standard pattern of either House Sparrow Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Note the combination of long "bib" (from the former) and black cheek patch (from the latter species) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Sep Eggs: 4 - 5 Incubation period: 10 - 14 days Fledging age: 10 - 19 days

The breeding season depends a lot on geographical latitude and climatic conditions. The period listed in the table above applies to central Europe. Also incubation and fledging times depend on external circumstances. Note that House Sparrows are one of only a few bird species that can reach breeding age in the same season they hatched.

Pair of House Sparrows working on the next generation... (photo courtesy of M. Senger)
[Eltville, Germany, May 2017]

Nest building: Male (& female) Incubation: Female (& male) Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: (Domed) basket, hollow Material: Twigs, roots, grass, leaves, feathers Height above ground: 2 - 10(?) m

Male House Sparrow in breeding plumage at the entrance to its nest hollow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Bergen, Norway, May 2016]

House Sparrow nest under a metal roof; the entrance tunnel to this nest was 1 m long

This male House Sparrow, which is still moulting into full breeding plumage, seems to be sizing up the feather it wants to use

This male House Sparrow has found the right size (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]

House Sparrows sometimes reuse, or even take away, of other species; in this case nests inside an active colony of Common House Martins were "repossessed", lower left; the nest was taken by force and defended against its original owners
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Dorsal view of a female House Sparrow carrying nest material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Eggs

Size: 21 x 15 mm Colour: White, with light-grey speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

House Sparrows are very sociable birds and are often found in flocks, not only when not breeding, but also during the breeding season.

House Sparrows flocking during the non-breeding season (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

House Sparrows flocking during the breeding season (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]

Food, Diet

House Sparrows are omnivores, with a preference for grain and insects. During the breeding season an ample supply of insects is required for feeding the young, but also for the females to build up energy.

Lateral view of a female House Sparrow with a big grub (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2020]

Lateral view of a female House Sparrow with a taste for corn "on the cob" (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2017]

Flock of House Sparrows feeding (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female House Sparrow collecting flying insects to feed its brood (possibly the second of the season) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]

House Sparrow foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near the Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]

House Sparrows feeding together with Common Starlings (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

passdom_dw_20170119_2.m4a domesticus
(Poland)
Contact calls © DW
passdom_dw_20170119_1.m4a domesticus
(Poland)
Contact calls © DW
passdom_jp_20200605.m4a domesticus
(Portugal)
Contact calls © JP

More House Sparrow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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