24 |
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House Sparrow![]() Size: 14-16 cm; wing span: 21-22.5 cm Weight: 24-40 g |
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Similar |
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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. |
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Photos |
Race "domesticus"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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]
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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]
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PAIR |
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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]
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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]
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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"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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 |
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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]
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Eggs |
Size: 21 x 15 mm | Colour: White, with light-grey speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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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]
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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]
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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
.