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L 14 to 16 cm. Breeds in proximity of man both in rural and in urban areas. Is therefore well known, and often thought of as the most numerous bird, which is far from the case (commonest in Britain are Wren and [[Chaffinch]]). Resident. Social, even when breeding, and usually occurs in dense flocks. Nests under roof tiles, in air duct, recess, sometimes in tree. Hybridizes with [[Spanish Sparrow]]. Very common and higly adaptable. '''Male''' has a grey crown, bold black bib with white cheeks. The male's bib is most prominent in the breeding season, and his bill changes colour from horn coloured to black. '''Female''' duller without males head pattern, though the female has a cream eyestripe which is lacking in the male. In both sexes the back is brown and heavily streaked. | L 14 to 16 cm. Breeds in proximity of man both in rural and in urban areas. Is therefore well known, and often thought of as the most numerous bird, which is far from the case (commonest in Britain are Wren and [[Chaffinch]]). Resident. Social, even when breeding, and usually occurs in dense flocks. Nests under roof tiles, in air duct, recess, sometimes in tree. Hybridizes with [[Spanish Sparrow]]. Very common and higly adaptable. '''Male''' has a grey crown, bold black bib with white cheeks. The male's bib is most prominent in the breeding season, and his bill changes colour from horn coloured to black. '''Female''' duller without males head pattern, though the female has a cream eyestripe which is lacking in the male. In both sexes the back is brown and heavily streaked. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | The House Sparrow was introduced to South Africa in the 1890's, this species is now found around virtually all human habitation. It is always associated with human settlement, and does not occur far away from houses or buildings, "Wherever people build, sooner or later House Sparrows come to share their abodes." | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
Often uses holes in buildngs or other structures, though house sparrows will also breed in thick ivy and natural structures. | Often uses holes in buildngs or other structures, though house sparrows will also breed in thick ivy and natural structures. | ||
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Chiefly grain, but will eat nuts and household scraps. Sparrows require insects during the breeding season to feed their nestlings, and it is thought that the recent decline in Northern European urban areas, particularly London is connected with a dearth of insect food for the young. Seven out of ten London sparrows were lost in the six years before the millennium, and the House Sparrow in now on the UK red list of endangered species [ref] | Chiefly grain, but will eat nuts and household scraps. Sparrows require insects during the breeding season to feed their nestlings, and it is thought that the recent decline in Northern European urban areas, particularly London is connected with a dearth of insect food for the young. Seven out of ten London sparrows were lost in the six years before the millennium, and the House Sparrow in now on the UK red list of endangered species [ref] | ||
[http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/sparrows.pdf DEFRA (UK) House Sparrow decline PDF] | [http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/sparrows.pdf DEFRA (UK) House Sparrow decline PDF] | ||
| − | |||
== Foraging & Food == | == Foraging & Food == | ||
| − | + | It eats seeds, soft buds, fruit, insects, spiders and any food scraps from humans or on bird tables. | |
== Breeding == | == Breeding == | ||
| − | + | It breeds all months of the year. The nest is an untidy mass of grass, wool, feathers and other soft materials, with side entrance; It is placed usually in a cavity in a building - under eaves or in a thatched roof. | |
== Bird Call == | == Bird Call == | ||
The sound of the House Sparrow has been described by some as a monotonous chirping. The writer of that field guide entry did not listen to them carefully enough, the sparrow has a much wider range of vocalisations than is generally credited. Here are some sounds - ''(sounds with house-sparrows.com in the Artist field are licensed exclusively to Birdforum and may not be used elsewhere without permission of the recordist)'' | The sound of the House Sparrow has been described by some as a monotonous chirping. The writer of that field guide entry did not listen to them carefully enough, the sparrow has a much wider range of vocalisations than is generally credited. Here are some sounds - ''(sounds with house-sparrows.com in the Artist field are licensed exclusively to Birdforum and may not be used elsewhere without permission of the recordist)'' | ||
Revision as of 14:40, 17 June 2007
- Passer domesticus
Other Names
German: Haussperling; Afrikaans: Huismossie
Identification
L 14 to 16 cm. Breeds in proximity of man both in rural and in urban areas. Is therefore well known, and often thought of as the most numerous bird, which is far from the case (commonest in Britain are Wren and Chaffinch). Resident. Social, even when breeding, and usually occurs in dense flocks. Nests under roof tiles, in air duct, recess, sometimes in tree. Hybridizes with Spanish Sparrow. Very common and higly adaptable. Male has a grey crown, bold black bib with white cheeks. The male's bib is most prominent in the breeding season, and his bill changes colour from horn coloured to black. Female duller without males head pattern, though the female has a cream eyestripe which is lacking in the male. In both sexes the back is brown and heavily streaked.
Habitat
The House Sparrow was introduced to South Africa in the 1890's, this species is now found around virtually all human habitation. It is always associated with human settlement, and does not occur far away from houses or buildings, "Wherever people build, sooner or later House Sparrows come to share their abodes."
Behaviour
Often uses holes in buildngs or other structures, though house sparrows will also breed in thick ivy and natural structures. In the UK the breeding season is from April to August; in the Northern Hemisphere the start varies with latitude - starting in mid-March at 30N and starting May at 60 degrees North. In the UK there are typically three clutches of four eggs over the breeding season, incubated for about 12 days. After hatching the nestlings fledge in approximately two weeks, though they are still dependent on their parents for food. (ref: The House Sparrow, JD Summers-Smith 1963) Chiefly grain, but will eat nuts and household scraps. Sparrows require insects during the breeding season to feed their nestlings, and it is thought that the recent decline in Northern European urban areas, particularly London is connected with a dearth of insect food for the young. Seven out of ten London sparrows were lost in the six years before the millennium, and the House Sparrow in now on the UK red list of endangered species [ref] DEFRA (UK) House Sparrow decline PDF
Foraging & Food
It eats seeds, soft buds, fruit, insects, spiders and any food scraps from humans or on bird tables.
Breeding
It breeds all months of the year. The nest is an untidy mass of grass, wool, feathers and other soft materials, with side entrance; It is placed usually in a cavity in a building - under eaves or in a thatched roof.
Bird Call
The sound of the House Sparrow has been described by some as a monotonous chirping. The writer of that field guide entry did not listen to them carefully enough, the sparrow has a much wider range of vocalisations than is generally credited. Here are some sounds - (sounds with house-sparrows.com in the Artist field are licensed exclusively to Birdforum and may not be used elsewhere without permission of the recordist)
<flashmp3>070204 titch sparrow ms957 trm.mp3</flashmp3>
A flock of about 200 sparrows, recorded at Titchwell bird reserve, Norfolk
<flashmp3>070425 sparrow chirp filt.mp3</flashmp3>
This is the classic sparrow chirp, often heard at length (up to half an hour!) in the Spring from an unmated male at the nest site trying to attract a female; although most persistent at that time the chirp can be heard from either sex all year round though for much shorter periods. Observation seems to indicate that as well as the breeding period usage of attracting a mate this call is also used to keep the flock aware of where other individuals are. A lone sparrow arriving may start up a chirp which attracts other sparrows. There is another variant of this, which has a disyllabic chirr-up, giving rise to an old English name for the house sparrow, "Phyllip sparrow" where the "phyll-ip" is onomatopoeic It is the loudest vocalisation of this bird.
<flashmp3>070407 11-00 sparrow chatter linkwitz flt.mp3</flashmp3>
This 'chattering' sound is common where there are sparrows in proximity. Although it is hard to avoid an anthropomorphic association with angry scolding, observation shows this sound can also be uttered by an individual on discovering a new food source, and may therefore also simply draw attention. It is also used to warn of ground predators
<flashmp3>070425 sparrow churrs feeding gdnmics filt comp.mp3</flashmp3>
Low level churrs. Though the house sparrow is a common bird not many people have heard this sound because it is emitted at a fairly low level. This was recorded about six inches from sparrows feeding at a confined location (squirrelproof mealworm feeder) and seemed to enable the sparrows to feed in a closer proximitiy to each other (< 1 inch) than even this social bird normally permits.
<flashmp3>Passer domesticus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
- BTO House Sparrow Information sheet
- RSPB House Sparrow page
- Kate Vincent House sparrow decline PhD thesis Kate Vincent studied potential reasons for the decline between 2000 and 2005 part sponsored by the RSPB and English Nature.
