Female Italian Sparrow? (Greece, Crete) (1 Viewer)

[JarJar]

Hi there,

could this be a female Italian Sparrow?
Seen in Greece, Crete, Faraggi Aposelemi, 14. April 2014

Thanks a lot,
Chris

 

[Richard Prior]

Impossible to tell JJ, the females are indistinguishable from House Sparrow, why did you ask, were there male Italian (or Spanish) Sparrows present (8 years ago I notice !!!)?

 

[stevethehydra]

For me the bill (both size and colour) would make this bird stand out among female House Sparrows in the UK. Wasn't there a recent thread in which a Spanish x House Sparrow hybrid was, if not proved, then close to it in the UK on bill size (measured when ringed)?

 

[Butty]

Birds vary.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
I agree with Steve, the bill is on the large side for a House Sparrow from Germany, too. I have seen female-typed House Sparrows with a blackish bill before, but they are rare, and I agree with Steve again, that this bird would stand out by this and its large-headed jizz (dont know if this a feature of Spanish Sparrow).

But I agree with Butty, that as House Sparrow is variable and the mentioned features are small/subtile, at least I cant ID this bird with confidence.

The thread Steve mentioned is this: Variability in House Sparrows, or could I have breeding female Spanish Sparrow [NW UK] One of the most interesting threads in recent times for me, thanks to Jane Turner for sharing!

 

[JarJar]

Thanks a lot for your replies and help!
Best regards,
Chris