Species Profile
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
House Sparrow
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: English Sparrow, Domestic Sparrow
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Appearance
House Sparrows are small, plump birds with rounded heads and stout beaks. Males have a grey crown, chestnut-brown nape, and black bib that expands during breeding season. Their wings display distinct brown and black streaks.
Females are duller, with a mix of brown and grey feathers and a pale stripe behind the eye. Juveniles resemble females but have less defined markings and a yellowish gape.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Black
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Brown
Female Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Buff
- Beak
- Grey
- Legs
- Brown
Female Markings
Pale supercilium, plain breast
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
House Sparrows are found on every continent except Antarctica, thriving in human-modified environments. They inhabit urban areas, farmlands, and suburban gardens, often nesting in buildings and other structures.
They are widespread across the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. While generally non-migratory, some northern populations may move short distances during harsh winters.
Where and when to see it
How often the House Sparrow turns up in the UK and Ireland through the year, from birdwatchers' records.
United Kingdom
Resident · all year · most records in June
Ireland
Resident · all year · most records in June
Show as a table
| Month | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1.4% (regular) | 1.2% (regular) |
| February | 1.5% (regular) | 1.4% (regular) |
| March | 1.5% (regular) | 1.5% (regular) |
| April | 1.4% (regular) | 1.7% (regular) |
| May | 1.6% (regular) | 1.8% (regular) |
| June | 1.9% (regular) | 1.9% (regular) |
| July | 1.9% (regular) | 1.7% (regular) |
| August | 1.4% (regular) | 1.1% (regular) |
| September | 1.2% (regular) | 0.93% (regular) |
| October | 1.2% (regular) | 1.1% (regular) |
| November | 1.2% (regular) | 1.2% (regular) |
| December | 1.3% (regular) | 1.3% (regular) |
Recorded regularly in
Worldwide: recorded regularly in 189 countries
Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.
Europe (48)
- Åland Islands
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Jersey
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Africa (45)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo - Brazzaville
- Congo - Kinshasa
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Réunion
- Rwanda
- São Tomé & Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Asia (43)
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- China
- Cyprus
- Georgia
- Hong Kong SAR China
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestinian Territories
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
North America (33)
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Canada
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Cayman Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guadeloupe
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Sint Maarten
- St Kitts & Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Martin
- St Pierre & Miquelon
- St Vincent & the Grenadines
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- United States
- US Virgin Islands
South America (14)
Oceania (6)
- Australia
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Norfolk Island
- Papua New Guinea
- Vanuatu
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made
Diet
House Sparrows are omnivorous, primarily feeding on seeds, grains, and insects. They readily eat human food scraps in urban areas.
During the breeding season, they increase their intake of insects to feed their young. These adaptable birds also consume buds, berries, and small fruits when available.
They can be a pest in farming areas due to their habit of eating grain crops and stored grains and animal feeds.
Behaviour
House Sparrows are highly social, often seen in noisy flocks. They hop rather than walk when on the ground, frequently dust-bathe, and are known for their bold behaviour around humans. These birds are opportunistic feeders, readily visiting bird feeders and scavenging in urban areas.
Calls & Sounds
House Sparrows are known for their constant chirping. Their most common call is a simple 'cheep' or 'chirp'. Males have a repetitive 'chirrup' song used for courtship and territory defence. In flocks, they produce a variety of chattering sounds, creating a lively, social atmosphere.
These birds are most vocal in the mid-afternoon, although you might hear them at any time of day.
- Song0:00 / 0:07
Recorded in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France · April 2026
- Call0:00 / 0:35
Recorded in Gelderland, Netherlands · March 2018
Nesting & Breeding
House Sparrows form monogamous pairs, typically breeding from early spring to late summer. Males attract females by calling and displaying their black bibs.
Nests are built in cavities of buildings, nest boxes, or dense vegetation. They're messy structures made of grass, feathers, and debris. Females lay 3-7 whitish eggs with brown speckles.
Incubation lasts about 11-14 days, shared by both parents. Chicks fledge after 14-16 days but continue to be fed by parents for another 1-2 weeks.
Conservation
While globally listed as Least Concern, House Sparrow populations have declined significantly in some urban areas, particularly in the UK and parts of Europe.
Factors include changes in agricultural practices, reduction in nesting sites, and increased predation. Conservation efforts focus on providing suitable nesting habitats in urban environments.
Elevation
Up to 4,500 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Common predators include domestic cats, hawks, owls, and corvids. In urban areas, they may also fall victim to window collisions and vehicle strikes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for flocks in urban and suburban areas, especially near buildings and parks.
- Listen for their distinctive chirping calls, often heard in groups.
- Observe their behaviour around bird feeders, where they're frequent visitors.
- In the UK and US, check eaves and building crevices for nesting sites.
Did You Know?
- House Sparrows can swim to escape predators, though they're not aquatic birds.
- They were intentionally introduced to many parts of the world in the 1800s.
- A group of sparrows is called a 'quarrel' due to their noisy, squabbling nature.
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