House Sparrow
Passer domesticus · Bird. Vertebrate. Warm-blooded. Wild (highly anthropophilic).
Animal Family
Passeridae, order Passeriformes, class Aves
Animal Category
Songbird, Invasive Species (in many regions), Wild Prey
Breed / Variety
Passer domesticus (Common House Sparrow)
Conservation Status
IUCN status: Least Concern. However, populations in many native European cities have seen significant declines recently.
About This Creature
A small, chunky songbird about 14-18 cm long. Males have a gray crown, chestnut neck, and a distinctive black bib. Females are a plain sandy-brown.
Physical Characteristics
Stout conical bill adapted for seeds, short legs, gray underparts, and dark-streaked brown wings. Males display a black throat patch (bib) which indicates social dominance.
Behavior & Temperament
Highly social and gregarious; found in flocks. Diurnal activity. Highly aggressive toward other birds for nesting sites. Vocalize with loud chirps. Non-migratory in most regions.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Originally native to the Middle East; naturally spread to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Artificially introduced to the Americas, Australasia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Habitat
Urban, suburban, and agricultural areas. Rarely found in uninhabited areas like deep forests or deserts. Terrestrial and aerial.
Diet & Nutrition
Omnivore. Primarily a granivore eating seeds and grain, but will eat insects while breeding and scavenge human food scraps in urban areas.
Lifespan & Health
Typical lifespan is 3 to 5 years in the wild; potential for 10+ years. Predated by domestic cats, hawks, and owls. Susceptible to avian malaria and salmonella.
Special Characteristics
Highly adaptable to human environments; known for 'dust bathing' to keep feathers clean. Culturally significant as one of the most widely distributed wild birds in the world.
Ecological Information
Acts as an opportunistic scavenger and seed disperser. In areas where they are invasive, they often displace native cavity-nesting birds such as bluebirds or martins.