mdahlem.net WWW

European birds    Bird names   News   Family groups 1-26    Glossary    Plumage    Tips    Thumbnails    Gen. info    Credits    Photos for sale
NON-PASSERINES     1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10     11     12     13     14	15     16     17     18     19     20     21     22     23     24     25     26     PASSERINES
Common names sorted alphabetically: A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   V   W   Y

24

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

Europe: Family Group 24 Family Group 24 Table White Wagtail Western Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Tawny Pipit Berthelot's Pipit Red-throated Pipit Tree Pipit Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Eurasian Rock Pipit Greater Short-toed Lark Calandra Lark Woodlark Eurasian Skylark Bearded Reedling House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Spanish Sparrow Rock Sparrow Trumpeter Finch European Serin Atlantic Canary Red-fronted Serin Eurasian Siskin Common Redpoll Arctic Redpoll Common Linnet Brambling Common Chaffinch European Goldfinch Eurasian Bullfinch Hawfinch Common Crossbill Common Rosefinch Yellowhammer Cirl Bunting Common Reed Bunting Ortolan Bunting Black-headed Bunting Corn Bunting Rock Bunting House Bunting Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description House Sparrows are small, but sturdily-built finch-like birds. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. During the breeding season male House Sparrows have a prominent black bib on throat and upper chest and rich-brown supercilia and eye stripes. The crown and the ear coverts are grey to dusky-grey. The mantle and part of the wing coverts are rich-brown, streaked black. The rest of the front is grey, with slightly darker grey streaking. Also the rump is grey. The flight feathers are dark-grey, with broad light-brown edges. The wings have a prominent white wing bar. In eclipse the rich-brown becomes much duller and the bib is reduced to a small chin patch with some vermiculation below the chin. Males have a dark-grey triangular-shaped bill. Female House Sparrows have a lighter-grey bill. Their plumage is pale brownish-grey where the males' is rich-brown and their supercilia are light-grey to cinnamon. Both sexes have black irises and pinkish-grey legs and feet. Juvenile House Sparrows have plainer colours yet than adult females, with a pinkish bill and an orange gape.

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 The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the House Sparrow is available HERE . There are about 12 recognized races of House Sparrows, split into 2 groups, the "domesticus" group and the "indicus" group, which altogether have a wide-ranging distribution. They are present all through Europe, except the northernmost parts and highest mountain ranges of Scandinavia, the Alps, Italy (where the Italian Sparrow, "Passer italiae" is a separate species) and all of the major islands in the Mediterranean Sea. There is also a population in parts of the north-African coastal fringe, along the river Nile and in some oases in the Sahara desert. Their range extends eastward and south-eastward through eastern Europe into all of mid-latitude Asia, throughout Russia and Kazakhstan to the eastern Siberian sea shore. Towards the South-east their distribution extends via Asia Minor into parts of the Middle East, most of Arabia (except the arid quarter) and into southern and south-eastern Asia, (Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India into southern Burma (for details see e.g. Wikipedia). Apart from their native range, they have also been introduced to various continents/islands (South Africa, Australia/New Zealand, both North and South America and Iceland). Race "domesticus" is the most widely introduced one. Race "domesticus" is found basically everywhere in Europe, EXCEPT the highest mountain ranges in Norway and Scotland and to the South of both the Alps and the Pyrenees.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "domesticus" H. Dahlem-Senger and M. Thomas report spotting House Sparrows, race "domesticus", regularly in and around Eltville, Hessen, Germany. D. Wilczynska reports spotting House Sparrows, race "domesticus", regularly in central Poland, e.g. in and around Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland. M. Eaton reports finding House Sparrows, race "domesticus", at Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, in June 2018. M. Eaton also found House Sparrows, race "domesticus", in Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, in September 2019. J. Pires finds House Sparrows, race "domesticus", regularly in various locations in southern/central Portugal. They were also spotted on different islands of the Azores in November 2018. In the past, House Sparrows, race "domesticus", were seen by us in various parts of Germany. Race "balearoibericus" H. Dahlem-Senger reports finding House Sparrows, race "balearoibericus", near Soller, Mallorca, Spain, in January 2018. M. Eaton spotted House Sparrows, race "balearoibericus", at Split, Croatia, in September 2019. Race "hufufae" House Sparrows, race "hufufae", were seen by us in Oman.

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Tue, 11 January 2022, 7:08 +00:00