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Bird Identification

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House Sparrow

Passer domesticus Length: 6.25"

Look For

This chunky, big-headed sparrow is a common sight in small flocks in cities, backyards, and farmyards. In winter, the male's colors are less distinct than in spring and summer. Females are drab gray-brown year-round. Flight is direct and swift with rapid wingbeats.

Listen for

House Sparrows do not really sing a song. Instead, they constantly utter a series of husky calls: cheerp! cha-deep! They also give harsh rattles and short whistles near the nest.

Remember

The House Sparrow thrives in cities where other sparrows cannot survive. It is never found far from human habitation, so a sparrow you see in natural, unaltered habitat is almost certainly not a House Sparrow.

Find it

Common in any human-affected landscape, House Sparrows nest in cavities (woodpecker holes, nest boxes) and often compete with native songbirds. House Sparrows visit bird feeders, eating almost anything that's served.

Wow!

House Sparrows were imported from Europe and introduced in New York in 1850 to control insects on city streets. By the early 1900s, they had spread across the continent to California.

This profile is an excerpt from The Young Birder's Guide by Bill Thompson, III. Purchase an autographed copy from our nature store, and check out other BWD titles designed to help you identify backyard birds.

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