The "true sparrows", the Old World sparrows in the family Passeridae, are small passerine birds. The differences between sparrow species can be subtle. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish birds with short tails and stubby powerful beaks. They are primarily seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects. A few species scavenge for food around cities and, like gulls or pigeons, will happily eat virtually anything in small quantities.
The Old World true sparrows are found indigenously in Europe, Africa and Asia. In Australia and the Americas, early settlers imported some species which quickly naturalised, particularly in urban and degraded areas. House Sparrows, for example, are now found throughout North America, in every state of Australia except Western Australia, and over much of heavily populated parts of South America.
There are 35 species of Old World sparrows. Below is the full list of Species
Passer, the true sparrows
Sexaul Sparrow, Passer ammodendri
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Spanish Sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
Sind Sparrow, Passer pyrrhonotus
Somali Sparrow, Passer castanopterus
Cinnamon Sparrow or Russet Sparrow, Passer rutilans
Pegu Sparrow or Plain-backed Sparrow, Passer flaveolus
Dead Sea Sparrow, Passer moabiticus
Rufous Sparrow, Passer motitensis
Socotra Sparrow, Passer insularis
Iago Sparrow or Cape Verde Sparrow, Passer iagoensis
Cape Sparrow or Mossie, Passer melanurus
Grey-headed Sparrow, Passer griseus
Swainson's Sparrow, Passer swainsonii
Parrot-billed Sparrow, Passer gongonensis
Swaheli Sparrow, Passer suahelicus
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Passer diffusus
Desert Sparrow, Passer simplex
Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
Sudan Golden Sparrow, Passer luteus
Arabian Golden Sparrow, Passer euchlorus
Chestnut Sparrow, Passer eminibey
Italian Sparrow, Passer italiae
Kenya Rufous Sparrow, Passer rufocinctus
Kordofan Rufous Sparrow, Passer cordofanicus
Shelley's Rufous Sparrow, Passer shelleyi
Asian Desert Sparrow, Passer zarudnyi
Petronia, the rock sparrows
Yellow-spotted Petronia, Petronia pyrgita
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, Petronia xanthocollis
Yellow-throated Petronia, Petronia superciliaris
Bush Petronia, Petronia dentata
Rock Sparrow, Petronia petronia
Carpospiza, Pale Rockfinch
Pale Rockfinch, Carpospiza brachydactyla
Montifringilla, the snowfinches
White-winged Snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis
Black-winged Snowfinch, Montifringilla adamsi
White-rumped Snowfinch, Montifringilla taczanowskii
Père David's Snowfinch, Montifringilla davidiana
Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Montifringilla ruficollis
Blanford's Snowfinch, Montifringilla blanfordi
Afghan Snowfinch, Montifringilla theresae
Tibetan Snowfinch, Montifringilla henrici
The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the Old World sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of Europe and much of Asia. It has also followed humans all over the world and has been intentionally or accidentally introduced to most of the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa and Australia as well as urban areas in other parts of the world.
In the United States it is also known as the English Sparrow, to distinguish it from native species, as the large North American population is descended from birds deliberately imported from Britain in the late 19th century. They were introduced independently in a number of American cities in the years between 1850 and 1875 as a means of pest control.
Wherever people build, House Sparrows sooner or later come to share their abodes. Though described as tame and semi-domestic, neither is strictly true; humans provide food and home, not companionship. The House Sparrow remains wary of man.
This 14 to 16 centimetre long bird is abundant in temperate climates, but not universally common; in many hilly districts it is scarce. In cities, towns and villages, even around isolated farms, it can be the most abundant bird.
The male House Sparrow has a grey crown, cheeks and underparts, black on the throat, upper breast and between the bill and eyes. The bill in summer is blue-black, and the legs are brown. In winter the plumage is dulled by pale edgings, and the bill is yellowish brown. The female has no black on head or throat, nor a grey crown; her upperparts are streaked with brown. The juveniles are deeper brown, and the white is replaced by buff; the beak is dull yellow. The House Sparrow is often confused with the smaller and slimmer Tree Sparrow, which, however, has a chestnut and not grey crown, two distinct wing bars, and a black patch on each cheek.
The House Sparrow is gregarious at all seasons in its nesting colonies, when feeding and in communal roosts.
Although the Sparrows' young are fed on the larvae of insects, often destructive species, this species eats seeds, including grain where it is available.
In spring, flowers — especially those with yellow colours — are often eaten; crocuses, primroses and aconites seem to attract the house sparrow most. The bird will also hunt butterflies.
The Sparrow's most common call is a short and incessant chirp. It also has a double call note phillip which originated the now obsolete name of "phillip sparrow". While the young are in their nests, the older birds utter a long churr. At least three broods are reared in the season.