Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

A small bird, generally associated with human habitation. Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings.

A very familiar bird, and closely associated with human habitation. The male has a grey crown; black throat and upper breast; chestnut nape, and brownish mantle. The female has a buff supercilium, and is ashy grey-brown above, and ashy white below. It is a sociable, noisy bird, sometimes collecting in large flocks and roosting in villages and towns. It will feed on almost anything: grain, insects, fruit buds, flower nectar and kitchen scraps. Its call consists of well known chirping notes. Breeding males also utter loud tsi, tsi, tsi or cheer, cheer, cheer, whilst displaying with fluffed out feathers, drooping wings and cocked tail.

Practically throughout the year. Several broods are raised in quick succession. The nest is a collection of straw and rubbish placed in a hole in wall or ceiling, niche, gargoyle, inverted lamp shade, and in every conceivable situation within or on the outside of a tenanted building. Rarely, in some small bushy tree or creeper. The eggs—three to five—are whitish or pale greenishwhite, marked with various shades of brown. Both sexes build and tend the young, but the female alone incubates. The incubation period is 14 days. '36

Well known. Smaller than the Bulbul. (6").

Female earthy-brown streaked with black and rufous above, whitish below.

The House-Sparrow is a confirmed hanger-on of Man in hills and plains alike, whether in bustling, noisy city or outlying forest village. When fresh areas are colonised, the Sparrow is amongst the foremost to profit, and quick to adapt itself to the new surroundings. In spite of this, however, its complete absence in certain apparently suitable localities—as for example in the Travancore hills -- seems curious and inexplicable. In winter, House-Sparrows collect in flocks—often of considerable size — to feed in the neighbourhood of cultivation. At this season, too, large numbers roost together in favourite trees or hedges, and indulge in a great deal of noise and bickering before settling down for the night. Their food consists mostly of grains and seeds gleaned on the ground, or picked out of horse -and cattle-droppings. Indeed, the presence or absence of horses at a hill-station, for example, has a marked influence on the local sparrow population. Insects and flower buds are also eaten. The vulgar, irritating call notes of the Sparrow are too well known to need description. Breeding males have, besides, a loud monotonous, and still more aggravating ' song ' — Tsi, tsi, tsi or cheer, cheer, cheer, etc, uttered, sometimes for fully 10 minutes on end, as the bird fluffs out its plumage, arches its rump, droops its wings and struts about arrogantly, twitching its slightly cocked tail

They are inseparable from human habitation.

An unfailing commensal of Man

IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1