House Sparrow

QUICK FACTS

Length: 5.5 - 7 inches
Color: (Females) Light brown (Males) Dark brown with a black crown
Diet: Omnivorous (mostly seeds, some insects)
Habitat: Urban areas and farms
Average Lifespan: ~ 16 years
Nests: Small cavities (gutters, abandoned buildings, bird houses, etc.)
Status: Least Concern (not endangered)

 

A flock of house sparrows (Passer domesticus); Taken beside Lowell's Eastern Canal

House sparrows like to inhabit open areas, and thrive on farmland and in urban landscapes. Where many other species of bird have been forced out of cities and are threatened by human expansion, the house sparrow tends to follow and benefit from human settlement.

This species is a part of the Passeridae family of sparrow, otherwise known as "Old world sparrows." Non-native, these sparrows from Europe, Africa and Asia were introduced across the globe by humans. House sparrows share many traits with other Passeridae - they lack in color compared to New World sparrows, are seed eaters, have short, decurved bills, and sing simple songs.

For predatory birds and mammals living near human settlements, the house sparrow makes up an important part of their diet. For humans, they are considered a "nuisance species," spreading feces and creating noise in cities. In rural areas in particular though, they are problematic because they force native birds (bluebirds, woodpeckers, etc.) out of their nesting grounds.