House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae.
The House Sparrow is typically about 6.3 inches long, ranging from 5.5 to 7.1 inches, and it is a compact bird with a full chest and a large, rounded head. Its bill is stout and conical. The plumage is mostly different shades of grey and brown and the sexes exhibit strong dimorphism. The female is mostly buffish above and below whilst the male has boldly coloured head markings, a reddish back and grey underparts.
The male has a dark grey crown from the top of its bill to its back and chestnut brown flanking its crown on the sides of its head. It has black around its bill, on its throat and on the lores between the bill and the eyes. It has a small white stripe between the lores and crown and small white spots immediately behind the eyes with black patches below and above them. The underparts are pale grey or white, as are the cheeks, ear coverts and stripes at the base of the head. The upper back and mantle are a warm brown, with broad black streaks whilst the lower back, rump and upper tail coverts are greyish brown. The male's bill is black in the breeding season and dark grey during the rest of the year. The female has no black markings or grey crown. Its upperparts and head are brown with darker streaks around the mantle and a distinct pale supercilium. Its underparts are pale grey-brown. The female's bill is brownish-grey and becomes darker in breeding plumage approaching the black of the male's bill. Juveniles are similar to the adult female but deeper brown below and paler above and with paler and less defined supercilia. Juveniles have broader buff feather edges and tend to have looser, scruffier plumage similar to moulting adults.
The House Sparrow can be confused with a number of other seed-eating birds, especially its relatives in the sparrow family Passeridae. The dull coloured female House Sparrow can often not be distinguished from other female sparrows and is nearly identical to those of the Spanish and Italian Sparrows. The Tree Sparrow is smaller and more slender with a chestnut crown and a black patch on each cheek. The male Spanish Sparrow and Italian Sparrow are distinguished by their chestnut crowns.
The House Sparrow's flight is direct rather than undulating. On the ground, it typically hops rather than walks.
The House Sparrow originated in the Middle East and spread, along with agriculture, to most of Eurasia and parts of north Africa. Since the mid-19th century, it has reached most of the world, mainly due to deliberate introductions but also through natural and shipborne dispersal. Its introduced range encompasses most of north America, central America, south America, south Africa, parts of West Africa, Australia, New Zealand and islands throughout the world. It has become highly successful in most parts of the world where it has been introduced. This is mostly due to its early adaptation to living with humans and its adaptability to a wide range of conditions. It has also greatly extended its range in northern Eurasia since the 1850s and continues to do so. The extent of its range makes the House Sparrow the most widely distributed wild bird on the planet.
The House Sparrow is closely associated with human habitation and cultivation. It is believed to have become associated with humans around 10,000 years ago. The only terrestrial habitats that the House Sparrow does not inhabit are dense forest and tundra. Well adapted to living around humans, it frequently lives and even breeds indoors, especially in factories, warehouses and zoos. It reaches its greatest densities in urban centres but its reproductive success is greater in suburbs where insects are more abundant. In most of its range, the House Sparrow is extremely common despite some declines but in more marginal habitats its distribution can be patchy.
Most House Sparrows do not move more than a few miles during their lifetimes. However, limited migration occurs in all regions. Some young birds disperse long distances and mountain birds move to lower elevations in winter.
The House Sparrow is a very social bird and it is gregarious during all seasons when feeding, often forming flocks with other species of birds. It roosts communally in trees or shrubs, its nests are usually grouped together in clumps and it engages in social activities such as dust or water bathing and "social singing" in which birds call together in bushes.
The House Sparrow can breed in the breeding season immediately following its hatching and sometimes it will attempt to do so. However, birds breeding for the first time are rarely successful in raising young and reproductive success increases with age as older birds breed earlier in the breeding season and fledge more young.
The timing of mating and egg-laying varies geographically and between specific locations and years because a sufficient supply of insects is needed for egg formation and feeding nestlings. Males take up nesting sites before the breeding season by frequently calling beside them. Unmated males start nest construction and call particularly frequently to attract females.
The House Sparrow is monogamous and typically mates for life but birds from pairs often engage in extra-pair copulations. Many birds do not find a nest and a mate and instead may serve as helpers around the nest for mated pairs, a role which increases the chances of being chosen to replace a lost mate. Lost mates of both sexes can be replaced quickly during the breeding season. The formation of a pair and the bond between the 2 birds is tied to the holding of a nest site.
Nest sites are varied although cavities are preferred. Nests are most frequently built in the eaves and other crevices of houses. Holes in cliffs and banks or tree hollows are also used and sometimes a nest will be excavated in sandy banks or rotten branches. Especially in warmer areas, the House Sparrow may build its nest in the open, such as on the branches of trees or in the nests of large birds such as storks, although breeding success tends to be lower. The nest is usually domed although it may lack a roof in enclosed sites. It has an outer layer of stems and roots, a middle layer of dead grass and leaves and a lining of feathers as well as of paper and other soft materials. The building of the nest is initiated by the unmated male while displaying to females. The female assists in building but is less active than the male.
The female House Sparrow usually lays 4 or 5 eggs although numbers from 1 to 10 have been recorded. At least 2 clutches are usually laid and up to 7 a year may be laid in the tropics or 4 a year in temperate latitudes. When fewer clutches are laid in a year, especially at higher latitudes, the number of eggs per clutch is greater. The female plays the main role in incubating the eggs. The male helps but can only cover the eggs rather than truly incubate them. The female spends the night incubating while the male roosts near the nest. Eggs hatch at the same time, after a short incubation period lasting 11 to 14 days. Young House Sparrows remain in the nest for 11 to 23 days but normally 14 to 16 days. During this time, they are fed by both parents. All the young leave the nest during the same period of a few hours. At this stage, they are normally able to fly. They start feeding themselves partly after 1 or 2 days and sustain themselves completely after 7 to 10 days.
In adult House Sparrows, annual survival is 45% to 65%. After fledging and leaving the care of their parents, young House Sparrows have a high mortality rate which lessens as they grow older and more experienced. Only about 20 to 25% of birds hatched survive to their first breeding season. The oldest known wild House Sparrow lived for nearly 20 years and the oldest recorded captive House Sparrow lived for 23 years.
The House Sparrow's main predators are cats and birds of prey but many other animals prey on them, including corvids, squirrels and even humans (it has been consumed in the past by people in many parts of the world and it still is in parts of the Mediterranean).
As an adult, the House Sparrow mostly feeds on the seeds of grains and weeds but it is opportunistic and adaptable and eats whatever foods are available. In urban areas, it scavenges and feeds largely on food provided directly or indirectly by humans such as bread and leftover food. It will also eat some plant matter including buds, berries and fruits such as grapes and cherries. Animals form another important part of the diet, including beetles, caterpillars, flies, aphids, molluscs, crustaceans earthworms and even vertebrates such as lizards and frogs. Young House Sparrows are fed mostly on insects until about 15 days after hatching. They are also given small quantities of seeds and spiders.
The House Sparrow has an extremely large range and population and is not seriously threatened by human activities so it is assessed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. However, populations have been declining in many parts of the world. These declines were first noticed in north America but have been most severe in west Europe.
In the UK, populations peaked in the early 1970s but have since declined by 70% overall and about 90% in some regions. Substantial declines have been noted in both rural and urban populations and the House Sparrow is designated as a “Red List” species. While the decline in England continues, Breeding Bird Survey data indicate recent population increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Various causes for the dramatic decreases in population have been suggested. A shortage of nesting sites caused by changes in urban building design is probably a factor together with an insufficient supply of insect food for nestlings arising from an increase of monoculture crops, the heavy use of pesticides and the replacement of native plants in cities with introduced plants and parking areas.
Date: 27th January 2008
Location: Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, Essex
The House Sparrow is typically about 6.3 inches long, ranging from 5.5 to 7.1 inches, and it is a compact bird with a full chest and a large, rounded head. Its bill is stout and conical. The plumage is mostly different shades of grey and brown and the sexes exhibit strong dimorphism. The female is mostly buffish above and below whilst the male has boldly coloured head markings, a reddish back and grey underparts.
The male has a dark grey crown from the top of its bill to its back and chestnut brown flanking its crown on the sides of its head. It has black around its bill, on its throat and on the lores between the bill and the eyes. It has a small white stripe between the lores and crown and small white spots immediately behind the eyes with black patches below and above them. The underparts are pale grey or white, as are the cheeks, ear coverts and stripes at the base of the head. The upper back and mantle are a warm brown, with broad black streaks whilst the lower back, rump and upper tail coverts are greyish brown. The male's bill is black in the breeding season and dark grey during the rest of the year. The female has no black markings or grey crown. Its upperparts and head are brown with darker streaks around the mantle and a distinct pale supercilium. Its underparts are pale grey-brown. The female's bill is brownish-grey and becomes darker in breeding plumage approaching the black of the male's bill. Juveniles are similar to the adult female but deeper brown below and paler above and with paler and less defined supercilia. Juveniles have broader buff feather edges and tend to have looser, scruffier plumage similar to moulting adults.
The House Sparrow can be confused with a number of other seed-eating birds, especially its relatives in the sparrow family Passeridae. The dull coloured female House Sparrow can often not be distinguished from other female sparrows and is nearly identical to those of the Spanish and Italian Sparrows. The Tree Sparrow is smaller and more slender with a chestnut crown and a black patch on each cheek. The male Spanish Sparrow and Italian Sparrow are distinguished by their chestnut crowns.
The House Sparrow's flight is direct rather than undulating. On the ground, it typically hops rather than walks.
The House Sparrow originated in the Middle East and spread, along with agriculture, to most of Eurasia and parts of north Africa. Since the mid-19th century, it has reached most of the world, mainly due to deliberate introductions but also through natural and shipborne dispersal. Its introduced range encompasses most of north America, central America, south America, south Africa, parts of West Africa, Australia, New Zealand and islands throughout the world. It has become highly successful in most parts of the world where it has been introduced. This is mostly due to its early adaptation to living with humans and its adaptability to a wide range of conditions. It has also greatly extended its range in northern Eurasia since the 1850s and continues to do so. The extent of its range makes the House Sparrow the most widely distributed wild bird on the planet.
The House Sparrow is closely associated with human habitation and cultivation. It is believed to have become associated with humans around 10,000 years ago. The only terrestrial habitats that the House Sparrow does not inhabit are dense forest and tundra. Well adapted to living around humans, it frequently lives and even breeds indoors, especially in factories, warehouses and zoos. It reaches its greatest densities in urban centres but its reproductive success is greater in suburbs where insects are more abundant. In most of its range, the House Sparrow is extremely common despite some declines but in more marginal habitats its distribution can be patchy.
Most House Sparrows do not move more than a few miles during their lifetimes. However, limited migration occurs in all regions. Some young birds disperse long distances and mountain birds move to lower elevations in winter.
The House Sparrow is a very social bird and it is gregarious during all seasons when feeding, often forming flocks with other species of birds. It roosts communally in trees or shrubs, its nests are usually grouped together in clumps and it engages in social activities such as dust or water bathing and "social singing" in which birds call together in bushes.
The House Sparrow can breed in the breeding season immediately following its hatching and sometimes it will attempt to do so. However, birds breeding for the first time are rarely successful in raising young and reproductive success increases with age as older birds breed earlier in the breeding season and fledge more young.
The timing of mating and egg-laying varies geographically and between specific locations and years because a sufficient supply of insects is needed for egg formation and feeding nestlings. Males take up nesting sites before the breeding season by frequently calling beside them. Unmated males start nest construction and call particularly frequently to attract females.
The House Sparrow is monogamous and typically mates for life but birds from pairs often engage in extra-pair copulations. Many birds do not find a nest and a mate and instead may serve as helpers around the nest for mated pairs, a role which increases the chances of being chosen to replace a lost mate. Lost mates of both sexes can be replaced quickly during the breeding season. The formation of a pair and the bond between the 2 birds is tied to the holding of a nest site.
Nest sites are varied although cavities are preferred. Nests are most frequently built in the eaves and other crevices of houses. Holes in cliffs and banks or tree hollows are also used and sometimes a nest will be excavated in sandy banks or rotten branches. Especially in warmer areas, the House Sparrow may build its nest in the open, such as on the branches of trees or in the nests of large birds such as storks, although breeding success tends to be lower. The nest is usually domed although it may lack a roof in enclosed sites. It has an outer layer of stems and roots, a middle layer of dead grass and leaves and a lining of feathers as well as of paper and other soft materials. The building of the nest is initiated by the unmated male while displaying to females. The female assists in building but is less active than the male.
The female House Sparrow usually lays 4 or 5 eggs although numbers from 1 to 10 have been recorded. At least 2 clutches are usually laid and up to 7 a year may be laid in the tropics or 4 a year in temperate latitudes. When fewer clutches are laid in a year, especially at higher latitudes, the number of eggs per clutch is greater. The female plays the main role in incubating the eggs. The male helps but can only cover the eggs rather than truly incubate them. The female spends the night incubating while the male roosts near the nest. Eggs hatch at the same time, after a short incubation period lasting 11 to 14 days. Young House Sparrows remain in the nest for 11 to 23 days but normally 14 to 16 days. During this time, they are fed by both parents. All the young leave the nest during the same period of a few hours. At this stage, they are normally able to fly. They start feeding themselves partly after 1 or 2 days and sustain themselves completely after 7 to 10 days.
In adult House Sparrows, annual survival is 45% to 65%. After fledging and leaving the care of their parents, young House Sparrows have a high mortality rate which lessens as they grow older and more experienced. Only about 20 to 25% of birds hatched survive to their first breeding season. The oldest known wild House Sparrow lived for nearly 20 years and the oldest recorded captive House Sparrow lived for 23 years.
The House Sparrow's main predators are cats and birds of prey but many other animals prey on them, including corvids, squirrels and even humans (it has been consumed in the past by people in many parts of the world and it still is in parts of the Mediterranean).
As an adult, the House Sparrow mostly feeds on the seeds of grains and weeds but it is opportunistic and adaptable and eats whatever foods are available. In urban areas, it scavenges and feeds largely on food provided directly or indirectly by humans such as bread and leftover food. It will also eat some plant matter including buds, berries and fruits such as grapes and cherries. Animals form another important part of the diet, including beetles, caterpillars, flies, aphids, molluscs, crustaceans earthworms and even vertebrates such as lizards and frogs. Young House Sparrows are fed mostly on insects until about 15 days after hatching. They are also given small quantities of seeds and spiders.
The House Sparrow has an extremely large range and population and is not seriously threatened by human activities so it is assessed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. However, populations have been declining in many parts of the world. These declines were first noticed in north America but have been most severe in west Europe.
In the UK, populations peaked in the early 1970s but have since declined by 70% overall and about 90% in some regions. Substantial declines have been noted in both rural and urban populations and the House Sparrow is designated as a “Red List” species. While the decline in England continues, Breeding Bird Survey data indicate recent population increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Various causes for the dramatic decreases in population have been suggested. A shortage of nesting sites caused by changes in urban building design is probably a factor together with an insufficient supply of insect food for nestlings arising from an increase of monoculture crops, the heavy use of pesticides and the replacement of native plants in cities with introduced plants and parking areas.
Date: 27th January 2008
Location: Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, Essex
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