🐦

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Least Concern

Longueur

16,0 cm

Envergure

25,0 cm

Poids

30,0 g

Famille

Passeridae

Ordre

Passeriformes

The most widely distributed wild bird on Earth, the House Sparrow is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa but has been introduced to every continent except Antarctica, always in close company with people. Breeding males show grey crowns, chestnut napes, black bibs, and streaked brown backs, while females and juveniles are plain buffy-brown with a pale eyebrow. It feeds chiefly on seeds and grains, adding insects during the breeding season and readily exploiting human food scraps in towns and cities. Nesting in cavities, crevices, and among buildings, it lays one to eight eggs, incubated for 10 to 14 days, with young fledging at 10 to 16 days. Its voice is a monotonous series of chirping notes rather than a melodic song, and flocks keep up a constant chatter. It is assessed as Least Concern.

À propos

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.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Body Length	16,0 cm	6.3 in
Envergure	25,0 cm	9.8 in
Poids	30,0 g	1.06 oz

Identification

Plumage

Males have grey crowns, chestnut napes, black bibs, and streaked brown backs. Females and juveniles are plain buffy-brown with a pale eyebrow stripe.

Bec

Short, stout, conical bill — black in breeding males, yellowish in non-breeding

Habitat & Range

Closely associated with human habitation. Found in cities, towns, farms, and any built environment. Rarely found far from people.

🌲 Forest

Répartition géographique

Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to every continent except Antarctica, making it the most widely distributed wild bird.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily seeds and grains, supplemented with insects during breeding season. Readily exploits human food scraps in urban settings.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: CV,SP,CR. Incubation: 10-14 days. Fledging: 10-16 days.

Taille de la couvée

1-8

Son

Chant

Monotonous series of chirping 'cheep' and 'chirrup' notes. Male gives 'chilp' song repeatedly. Flocks produce constant chirping chatter. No melodic song; purely functional calls.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Famille	Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
Genus	Passer
Espèces	Passer domesticus

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
German	Haussperling
Spanish	Gorrión Común

Distribution

House Sparrow has been recorded in 62 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇲🇻 Maldives 🇸🇬 Singapore 🇧🇮 Burundi 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde 🇨🇩 Congo (DRC) 🇩🇯 Djibouti 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇱🇷 Liberia 🇳🇦 Namibia 🇳🇪 Niger 🇲🇬 Madagascar 🇲🇼 Malawi 🇸🇿 Eswatini 🇬🇲 Gambia 🇰🇪 Kenya 🇧🇼 Botswana 🇷🇼 Rwanda 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇸🇨 Seychelles 🇸🇴 Somalia 🇸🇸 South Sudan 🇸🇩 Sudan 🇹🇿 Tanzania 🇿🇲 Zambia 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe 🇧🇸 Bahamas 🇧🇧 Barbados 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇨🇱 Chile 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇩🇲 Dominica 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇵🇦 Panama 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🇵🇪 Peru 🇻🇳 Vietnam 🇧🇿 Belize 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 🇸🇻 El Salvador 🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire 🇱🇦 Laos 🇬🇹 Guatemala 🇭🇹 Haiti 🇯🇲 Jamaica 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇮 Nicaragua 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇻🇺 Vanuatu 🇻🇪 Venezuela 🇦🇷 Argentina 🇦🇺 Australia 🇺🇸 United States 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the House Sparrow eat?

Primarily seeds and grains, supplemented with insects during breeding season. Readily exploits human food scraps in urban settings.

Where does the House Sparrow live?

Closely associated with human habitation. Found in cities, towns, farms, and any built environment. Rarely found far from people.

Is the House Sparrow endangered?

The House Sparrow has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the House Sparrow nest?

Nest type: CV,SP,CR. Incubation: 10-14 days. Fledging: 10-16 days.

What does the House Sparrow sound like?

Monotonous series of chirping 'cheep' and 'chirrup' notes. Male gives 'chilp' song repeatedly. Flocks produce constant chirping chatter. No melodic song; purely functional calls.

How big is the House Sparrow?

The House Sparrow has a body length of 16.0 cm, wingspan of 25.0 cm, weight of 30.0 g.

What order and family does the House Sparrow belong to?

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Passeridae.