# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 945 - **Habitat:** Urban and suburban areas - **Also known as:** English Sparrow, Garden Sparrow, Sparrow ![House Sparrow](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426266/objects/4537.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Passeridae - **Genus:** Passer ## 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 - **Urban Adaptability:** House Sparrows can thrive almost anywhere humans live because they adapt incredibly well to urban environments. - **Seed Cracker:** House Sparrows have a strong, conical beak that helps them easily crack open tough seeds and grains for food. - **Social Builder:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — A common urban predator. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — Hunts small birds like sparrows. - **Eats:** [Wheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wheat) (*Triticum aestivum*) — Feeds on fallen grains. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low House Sparrows are not dangerous, but it's best to observe them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify House Sparrow? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is House Sparrow? 14-16 cm ### What is House Sparrow's wingspan? 21-25 cm ### How much does House Sparrow weigh? 0.024-0.039 kg ### How long does House Sparrow live? 3-5 years ### How fast can House Sparrow move? 61 km/h ### What does House Sparrow eat? They are opportunistic eaters, feasting on seeds, grains, insects, and human scraps. ### Where is House Sparrow usually found? Urban and suburban areas ## Where to spot - [Allerton Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allerton-garden) — Hawaii, US · Botanical Garden - [Ambler Heights Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ambler-heights-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/house-sparrow) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [House Sparrow: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow)