House Sparrow

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House Sparrow - Bob Winters

Passer domesticus

The male has a grey crown, black face, throat and bill, chestnut brown nape and sides of neck with grey-white cheeks and grey-brown underparts. The female has a brown bill, brown upperparts with darker streaks and a buff eyebrow. Size 14-16 cm.

Details
Type
Bird
Group
Animals
Finches and Sparrows
Biology

Breeds spring and summer. Builds a bulky domed nest in buildings, tree hollows or shrubs. Pairs mate for life. The female incubates the eggs but both male and female build the nest and care for the young.
Distinctive Markings

The male has a distinctive grey crown, black face and throat which extends to the chest in the breeding season.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Passeridae
Genus
Passer
Species
domesticus
Native to north-west Africa and Eurasia. Widespread in eastern Australia and Tasmania including South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

House Sparrows were introduced to Australia from Britain in the 1860s.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Omnivore, feeding on a wide range of food including invertebrates, seeds, flower buds, berries and food scraps.
Habitat

Parks, cities, towns, farmlands, crop growing areas.
Native Status
Introduced
Audio
Sounds
Persistent "cheep" or harsh chattering.