Bird 🐦
🐦
Passer domesticus
| Size | 14–15 cm About the size of a large matchbox |
|---|---|
| Weight | 24–38 g About the weight of a small chocolate bar |
| Lifespan | 3 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Males have a grey crown and black bib; females are streaky brown with a pale supercilium and no bib |
| Habitat | Towns, villages, farmland, gardens — strongly associated with human habitation |
| Best time | Year-round |
| Conservation | UK: Red LC |
Did you know?
House Sparrow populations have declined by over 70% in the UK since the 1970s — a Red List species despite still seeming common in towns
House Sparrow populations have declined by over 70% in the UK since the 1970s — a Red List species despite still seeming common in towns
More for experts
Highly colonial nesters — groups share alarm calls about predators, meaning sparrows in larger colonies survive better than isolated pairs
Often confused with
Tree Sparrow (chestnut cap, black cheek spot), Dunnock (thin bill, grey face)
Tree Sparrow (chestnut cap, black cheek spot), Dunnock (thin bill, grey face)