House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Conservation Status
Least ConcernAves · Passeriformes · Passeridae
About
The house sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.
Fun Fact
House sparrows are the most widely distributed wild bird on Earth — they've followed human civilisation to every continent except Antarctica — yet populations in Western Europe have crashed by over 50% since the 1980s.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Urban and suburban areas
Diet
Granivore
Lifespan
3-5 years
Threats
- Human-Wildlife Conflict
- Climate Change