Passer domesticus - House Sparrow
Feather characters. Barbules are from short to medium length (0.85-1.66 mm). Barbules are divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (32-38 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 15 cm. Weight: male 28.0 g (20.0-34.0), female 27.4 g (20.1-34.5) (Dunning, 1993). Probably the most ubiquitous and best-known bird; has been introduced in many parts of the world. Distribution is more strongly correlated with human presence than any other bird. Male has dark grey crown, rufous brown neck, black 'bib' extending to upper chest, light grey cheeks and underparts, warm brown upperparts and wings, streaked with black, conspicuous white wing-bar, greyish rump and dark brown tail. Female and juvenile are similar: much duller in colouration than male, with brown upperparts, washed with grey and streaked with darker brown on wings and back; underparts uniform grey with buff tinge. Male is duller in winter, with less obvious head markings; 'bib' is present at all seasons. Highly gregarious; often seen in flocks of dozens, both in the field and during roosting. The subspecies known as Italian Sparrow (P. d. italiae, a stabilised hybrid of P. hispaniolensis x P. domesticus) has darker upperparts, lighter underparts and uniform rufous brown head, rather like Spanish Sparrow.
Voice. Very noisy; call most often heard is a loud "cheep" and variations thereof. Other twittering and chirping noises are also produced.
Distribution. Predominantly a very common resident; during harsh winters, northernmost populations may migrate to more densely populated areas; declining. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Almost exclusively in the immediate vicinity of human settlements; in non-breeding season, may be found far from human habitation.
Food. An omnivorous ground-feeder; young largely fed with small invertebrates taken from trees, will take anything available -within constraints of dietary requirements- from corn, fruits and seeds to human refuse of all kinds, such as kitchen offal and stale bread.