House Sparrow vs Cape Sparrow
Passer domesticus compared with Passer melanurus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | House Sparrow | Cape Sparrow |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Passer domesticus | Passer melanurus |
| Order | Passeriformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passeridae | Passeridae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) | 14.9 cm (5.9 in) |
| Weight | 30.0 g (1.06 oz) | 26.150000000000002 g (0.92 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily seeds and grains, supplemented with insects during breeding season. Readily exploits human food scraps … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-8 | 2-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
House Sparrow
Closely associated with human habitation. Found in cities, towns, farms, and any built environment. Rarely found far from people.
Song & Call Comparison
House Sparrow
Monotonous series of chirping 'cheep' and 'chirrup' notes. Male gives 'chilp' song repeatedly. Flocks produce constant chirping chatter. No melodic song; purely functional calls.
Cape Sparrow
Geographic Range & Migration
House Sparrow
Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to every continent except Antarctica, making it the most widely distributed wild bird.
Cape Sparrow
Conservation Status
House Sparrow
Cape Sparrow
How to Tell Them Apart
House Sparrow
Males have grey crowns, chestnut napes, black bibs, and streaked brown backs. Females and juveniles are plain buffy-brown with a pale eyebrow stripe.
Short, stout, conical bill — black in breeding males, yellowish in non-breeding
Cape Sparrow
About These Birds
House Sparrow
The house sparrow is perhaps the most successful bird in the world at living alongside humans. Introduced to New York in 1851, it spread across North America within decades. Despite its global abundance, house sparrow populations have declined significantly in parts of western Europe.