USA, Midwest, Illinois, Libertyville- bird fledging? (1 Viewer)

[eobrienc]

My sister is currently with her boyfriend in Libertyville, Illinois for Thanksgiving (11/26/2020). She took a picture of this bird at roughly 4-5 pm CST. Judging by the size of the awning it's under, it seems to be a decently large bird, but it's awkward appearance looks like that of a fledging, not a full-grown adult. Can anyone help me ID this? I hope the picture isn't too unhelpful.

 

[jmepler]

The bird is a House Sparrow, and it is an adult.

 

[eobrienc]

The bird is a House Sparrow, and it is an adult.

Oh really? I thought sparrows tend to be mostly brown while this one has a lot of grey. Or does this one just happen to be at an angle that shows none of the brown plumage?
If it is a house sparrow, then I wonder what sparrows I've been seeing around my own neck of the woods as they don't have that coloring and don't look as chunky as this one.

 

[Microtus]

Hi eobrienc and welcome to the Forum. Your sister photographed a fully-grown male House Sparrow. Males of this species have a lot of gray on the head and on the flanks, while the brown is on the wings, back, and back of the head. As this bird is facing the observer, the brown is hard to see.

 

[kevinsl06]

House Sparrows were introduced from Europe, so they are different from American sparrows.