ExploreBird

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

House Sparrows are small, friendly birds often seen in parks and gardens. They love to chirp and can be found hopping around looking for food.

Habitat: Urban and suburban areas

Appearance

The House Sparrow is a small, stocky bird. Males have a distinctive grey cap, white cheeks, a black bib, and a reddish-brown nape. Females are plainer brown with streaky backs, lacking the male's bold head markings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyPasseridaeGenusPasser

House Sparrow

Interesting facts

House Sparrows are among the most widespread birds on Earth, found on almost every continent!

House Sparrows were introduced to North America in 1851 and quickly spread across the continent.

Males display to females by puffing up their chest feathers and chirping loudly!

These clever birds often take dust baths to keep their feathers clean and free of tiny parasites.

Special abilities

House Sparrows can thrive almost anywhere humans live because they adapt incredibly well to urban environments.

House Sparrows have a strong, conical beak that helps them easily crack open tough seeds and grains for food.

House Sparrows often nest in colonies, using human structures to build their messy, dome-shaped nests for shelter.

Measurements & details

Length: 14-16 cm
Wingspan: 21-25 cm
Weight: 0.024-0.039 kg
Lifespan: 3-5 years
Top Speed: 61 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-7
Incubation: 10-14 days

Diet & Feeding

They are opportunistic eaters, feasting on seeds, grains, insects, and human scraps.

Age differences: Young birds eat more insects for protein.

Primary Foods

Seeds
Grains
Insects
Crumbs
Berries
Buds

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

A common urban predator.

eaten by

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Hunts small birds like sparrows.

eats

Wheat

Triticum aestivum

Feeds on fallen grains.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Singing

Listen to the beautiful sounds of nature's singers! These animals use their voices to attract friends, mark their territory, or even warn others.

Urban Friendly

Spot amazing living things that thrive right alongside us in cities and towns, finding homes in parks, gardens, and even cracks in pavements.

Invasive

Sometimes, plants or animals move to a new place where they don't naturally belong. They can grow so much that they make it hard for the native plants and animals to thrive.