Sparrow

For other uses, see Sparrow (disambiguation).

Generally, sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds

with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. The differences between sparrow species can be subtle. Members of this family range in size from the chestnut sparrow (Passer eminibey), at 11.4 centimetres (4.5 in) and
13.4 grams (0.47 oz), to the parrot-billed sparrow (Passer
gongonensis), at 18 centimetres (7.1 in) and 42 grams (1.5
oz). Sparrows are physically similar to other seed-eating
birds, such as nches, but have a vestigial dorsal outer
primary feather and an extra bone in the tongue.[2][3] This
bone, the preglossale, helps stien the tongue when holding seeds. Other adaptations towards eating seeds are
specialised bills and elongated and specialised alimentary
canals.[4]

The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds,

Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows,
or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus
of the family Passer.[1] They are distinct from both the
American sparrows, in the family Emberizidae, and from
a few other birds sharing their name, such as the Java sparrow of the family Estrildidae. Many species nest on buildings, and the house and Eurasian tree sparrows in particular inhabit cities in large numbers, so sparrows may
be the most familiar of all wild birds. They are primarily seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects.
Some species scavenge for food around cities and, like
gulls or rock doves, will happily eat virtually anything in
small quantities.

2 Taxonomy and systematics

Description

A close-up of a male house sparrow

A sparrow chick in Italy

Under the classication used in the Handbook of the Birds

of the World (HBW) main groupings of the sparrows
are the true sparrows (genus Passer), the snownches
(typically one genus, Montifringilla), and the rock sparrows (Petronia and the pale rocknch). These groups

Yellow-throated sparrow at Keoladeo National Park, India

2 TAXONOMY AND SYSTEMATICS

and frequently well-marked heads, American sparrows,
or New World sparrows, are members of a dierent family, Emberizidae, which also includes the buntings.[4] The
hedge sparrow or dunnock (Prunella modularis) is similarly unrelated. It is a sparrow in name only, a relict
of the old practice of calling more types of small birds
sparrows.[7] A few further bird species are also called
sparrows, such as the Java sparrow, an estrildid nch.
According to Luis Allende and colleagues, sparrows seem
to have a parental species (Petronia petronia). They are
not closely related to American sparrows or nches.[8][9]

2.1 Species
This is a list of sparrow species:[4][5][10]
Hypocryptadius
Cinnamon ibon
Passer, the true sparrows
Painting of black-winged snownches

Saxaul sparrow, Passer ammodendri

House sparrow, Passer domesticus
Italian sparrow, Passer italiae

are similar to each other, and are each fairly homogeneous, especially Passer.[4] Some classications also
include the sparrow-weavers (Plocepasser) and several
other African genera (otherwise classied among the
weavers, Ploceidae)[4] which are morphologically similar
to Passer.[5] According to a study of molecular and skeletal evidence by Jon Fjelds and colleagues, the cinnamon
ibon of the Philippines, previously considered to be a
white-eye, is a sister taxon to the sparrows as dened by
the HBW. They therefore classify it as its own subfamily
within Passeridae.[5]
Many early classications of the sparrows placed them
as close relatives of the weavers among the various families of small seed-eating birds, based on the similarity
of their breeding behaviour, bill structure, and moult,
among other characters. Some, starting with P. P. Suskin
in the 1920s, placed the sparrows in the weaver family as the subfamily Passerinae, and tied them to Plocepasser. Another family sparrows were classed with was
the nches (Fringillidae).[4]
Some authorities previously classied the related estrildid
nches of the Old World tropics and Australasia as members of the Passeridae. Like sparrows, the estrildid
nches are small, gregarious and often colonial seedeaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They are
broadly similar in structure and habits, but tend to be very
colourful and vary greatly in their plumage. The 2008
Christidis and Boles taxonomic scheme lists the estrildid
nches as the separate family Estrildidae, leaving just the
true sparrows in Passeridae.[6]
Despite some resemblance such as the seed-eaters bill

Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis

Sind sparrow, Passer pyrrhonotus
Somali sparrow, Passer castanopterus
Russet sparrow, Passer rutilans
Plain-backed sparrow, Passer aveolus
Dead Sea sparrow, Passer moabiticus
Iago sparrow, Passer iagoensis
Great sparrow, Passer motitensis
Kenya sparrow, Passer rufocinctus
Kordofan sparrow, Passer cordofanicus
Shelleys sparrow, Passer shelleyi
Socotra sparrow, Passer insularis
Abd al-Kuri sparrow, Passer hemileucus
Cape sparrow, Passer melanurus
Northern grey-headed sparrow, Passer griseus
Swainsons sparrow, Passer swainsonii
Parrot-billed sparrow, Passer gongonensis
Swahili sparrow, Passer suahelicus
Southern grey-headed sparrow, Passer diusus
Desert sparrow, Passer simplex
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
Sudan golden sparrow, Passer luteus
Arabian golden sparrow, Passer euchlorus
Chestnut sparrow, Passer eminibey

3
Petronia, the petronias or rock sparrows

The sparrows are generally birds of open habitats, including grasslands, deserts, and scrubland. The snownches
Yellow-spotted petronia, Petronia pyrgita
and ground-sparrows are all species of high latitudes. A
Yellow-throated sparrow, Petronia xanthocol- few species, like the Eurasian tree sparrow, inhabit open
woodland.[4] The aberrant cinnamon ibon has the most
lis
unusual habitat of the family, inhabiting the canopy of
Yellow-throated petronia, Petronia supercilcloud forest in the Philippines.[5]
iaris
Bush petronia, Petronia dentata
Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia

4 Behaviour and ecology

Carpospiza
Pale rocknch, Carpospiza brachydactyla
Montifringilla, the snownches
White-winged snownch, Montifringilla nivalis
Black-winged
adamsi

snownch,

Montifringilla

White-rumped
taczanowskii

snownch,

Montifringilla

Pre Davids snownch, Montifringilla davidiana

Rufous-necked snownch, Montifringilla rucollis
Plain-backed snownch, Montifringilla blanfordi
Afghan snownch, Montifringilla theresae

Distribution and habitat

Sudan golden sparrows, here on the Red Sea coast of Sudan, are
highly gregarious outside of the breeding season.

A male Dead Sea sparrow in southeastern Turkey

The sparrows are indigenous to Europe, Africa and Asia.

In the Americas, Australia, and other parts of the world,
settlers imported some species which quickly naturalised,
particularly in urban and degraded areas. House sparrows, for example, are now found throughout North
America, in every state of Australia except Western Australia, parts of southern and eastern Africa, and over
much of the heavily populated parts of South America.[4]

Sparrows are generally social birds, with many species

breeding in loose colonies and most species occurring in
ocks during the non-breeding season. The great sparrow
is an exception, breeding in solitary pairs and remaining
only in small family groups in the non-breeding season.
Most sparrows form large roosting aggregations in the
non-breeding seasons that contain only a single species (in
contrast to multi-species ocks that might gather for foraging). Sites are chosen for cover and include trees, thick
bushes and reed beds. The assemblages can be quite large
with up to 10,000 house sparrows counted in one roost in
Egypt.[4]
The sparrows are some of the few passerine birds that engage in dust bathing. Sparrows will rst scratch a hole in
the ground with their feet, then lie in it and ing dirt or
sand over their bodies with icks of their wings. They
will also bathe in water, or in dry or melting snow. Water
bathing is similar to dust bathing, with the sparrow standing in shallow water and icking water over its back with
its wings, also ducking its head under the water. Both ac-

REFERENCES

tivities are social, with up to a hundred birds participating The pet passer of Lesbia in Catullus's poems may not have
at once, and is followed by preening and sometimes group been a sparrow, but a thrush or European goldnch. John
singing.[4]
Skelton's The Boke of Phyllyp Sparowe is a lament for a
pet house sparrow belonging to a Jane Scrope, narrated
by Scrope.[4][12][17][18]

Relationships with humans

Sparrows may be the most familiar of all wild birds

worldwide.[11] Many sparrow species commonly live in
agricultural areas, and for several human settlements are
a primary habitat. The Eurasian tree and house sparrows are particularly specialised in living around humans
and inhabit cities in large numbers. 17 of the 26 species
recognised by the Handbook of the Birds of the World are
known to nest on and feed around buildings.[4]
Grain-eating species, in particular the house and Sudan
golden sparrows, can be signicant agricultural pests.
Sparrows can be benecial to humans as well, especially
by eating insect pests. Attempts at the large-scale control
of sparrows have failed to aect sparrow populations signicantly, or have been accompanied by major increases
in insect attacks probably resulting from a reduction of
sparrows, as in the Great Sparrow Campaign in 1950s
China.[4]
Because of their familiarity, the house sparrow and other
sparrows are frequently used to represent the common
and vulgar, or the lewd.[12] Birds usually described later
as sparrows are referred to in many works of ancient literature and religious texts in Europe and western Asia.
These references may not always refer specically to
sparrows, or even to small, seed-eating birds, but later
writers who were inspired by these texts often had the
house sparrow and other members of the family in mind.
In particular, sparrows were associated by the ancient
Greeks with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, due to their
perceived lustfulness, an association echoed by later writers such as Chaucer and Shakespeare.[4][12][13]

6 References
[1] Summers-Smith 2005, p. 17
[2] Bledsoe, A. H.; Payne, R. B. (1991). Forshaw, Joseph,
ed. Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds. London: Merehurst
Press. p. 222. ISBN 1-85391-186-0.
[3] Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan; Davis, John (1993). Finches
and Sparrows: an Identication Guide. Princeton, New
Jersey: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-034249.
[4] Summers-Smith, J. Denis (2009). Family Passeridae
(Old World Sparrows)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David. Handbook of the Birds of the
World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows.
Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-96553-50-7.
[5] Fjelds, J.; Irestedt, M.; Ericson, P. G. P.; Zuccon, D.
(2010). The Cinnamon Ibon Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus is a forest canopy sparrow. Ibis 152 (4): 747760.
doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2010.01053.x.
[6] Christidis & Boles 2008, p. 177
[7] Summers-Smith 1988, p. 13
[8] Allende, Luis M. et al. (2001). The Old World sparrows
(genus Passer) phylogeography and their relative abundance of nuclear mtDNA pseudogenes (PDF). Journal of
Molecular Evolution 53 (2): 144154. PMID 11479685.
Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
[9] Arnaiz-Villena, Antonio; Gmez-Prieto, Pablo; Ruiz-deValle, Valentin (2009). Phylogeography of nches and
sparrows. Nova Science Publishers.

Jesuss use of sparrows as an example of divine providence in the Gospel of Matthew[14] also inspired later [10] BirdLife International (2010). Species factsheet: Passer
references, such as that in Shakespeares Hamlet[12] and
hemileucus". Archived from the original on 21 September
the Gospel hymn His Eye Is on the Sparrow.[15]
2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
Sparrows are represented in ancient Egyptian art very [11] Clement, Peter; Colston, P. R. (2003). Sparrows and
rarely, but an Egyptian hieroglyph is based on the house
Snownches. In Perrins, Christopher. The Firey Ensparrow, the sparrow hieroglyph: The symbol had no
cyclopedia of Birds. Firey Books. pp. 590591. ISBN
phonetic value and was used as a determinative in words
1-55297-777-3.
to indicate small, narrow, or bad.[16]
[12] Summers-Smith 1963, pp. 49, 215

Sparrows have been kept as pets at many times in history,

even though they are not colourful and their songs are unremarkable. They are also dicult to keep, as pet sparrows must be raised by hand as nestlings, when considerable supplies of insects are required to feed them. The
earliest mentions of pet sparrows are from the Romans.
Not all the passeri mentioned, often as pets, in Roman
literature were necessarily sparrows, but some accounts
of them clearly describe their appearance and habits.[17]

[13] Shipley, A. E. (1899). Sparrow. In Cheyne, Thomas

Kelley; and Black, J. Sutherland. Encyclopaedia Biblica
4.
[14] Matthew 10:29-31
[15] Todd 2012, pp. 5658
[16] Houlihan & Goodman 1986, pp. 136137
[17] Summers-Smith 2005, pp. 2935

[18] Ferber, Michael (2007). Sparrow. A Dictionary of Literary Symbols. Cambridge University Press.

Works cited
Christidis, L.; Boles, W. E. (2008). Systematics and
Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Canberra: CSIRO
Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6.
Houlihan, Patrick E.; Goodman, Steven M. (1986).
The Natural History of Egypt, Volume I: The Birds of
Ancient Egypt. Warminster: Aris & Philips. ISBN
0-85668-283-7.
Summers-Smith, J. Denis (1963). The House Sparrow. New Naturalist (1st. ed.). London: Collins.
Summers-Smith, J. Denis (1988). The Sparrows. illustrated by Robert Gillmor. Calton, Stas, England: T. & A. D. Poyser. ISBN 0-85661-048-8.
Summers-Smith, J. Denis (2005). On Sparrows
and Man: A Love-Hate Relationship. Guisborough.
ISBN 0-9525383-2-6.
Todd, Kim (2012). Sparrow. Animal. Reaktion
Books. ISBN 978-1-86189-875-3.

External links
Passeridae at the Internet Bird Collection

8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

Text

Sparrow Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparrow?oldid=635590277 Contributors: Lee Daniel Crocker, Bryan Derksen, Tarquin,
Andre Engels, Oliverkroll, Karen Johnson, William Avery, Mintguy, JDG, Nommonomanac, Jketola, Tannin, Jimfbleak, Rossami, Selket,
JohnCastle, Warofdreams, RadicalBender, Robbot, JerryFriedman, MPF, Abigail-II, FrYGuY, Andycjp, Keith Edkins, Yath, Williamb,
MistToys, Ukexpat, DanielCD, Piil, Discospinster, Solitude, Evice, QuartierLatin1968, Felagund, Fir0002, Smalljim, .:Ajvol:., Juzeris,
ChriKo, John Fader, Obradovic Goran, Haham hanuka, Dileepcyriac, Sabines Sunbird, Sundar2000, Snowolf, Velella, Kusma, Stemonitis,
Sfoehner, Bkkbrad, SP-KP, MONGO, Rickjpelleg, M412k, Btyner, Matilda, BD2412, Ericmc783, FlaBot, SchuminWeb, Eubot, Celestianpower, Roarjo, DVdm, Gdrbot, Grubber, Apokryltaros, Benne, Misza13, Semperf, DeadEyeArrow, Caerwine, Nlu, FF2010, Ageekgal, Stezton, Argo Navis, Internaciulo, SmackBot, Kilo-Lima, Hardyplants, Avatarcourt, Alsandro, Andy M. Wang, Durova, Bluebot,
Geneb1955, Thumperward, Ishmayl, Snowmanradio, Rrburke, Slam King, TedE, Xagent86, Cookie90, Nishkid64, Michael Romanov,
Minaker, Kuru, Lampman, Jimmy Pitt, Eridani, Ryulong, Robin Chen, Andreworkney, Tawkerbot2, Galo1969X, AshLin, Ken Gallager, Pais, Kanags, Reywas92, Pascal.Tesson, Ebyabe, Calvero JP, UberScienceNerd, Casliber, Lagesag, David Humphreys, Marek69,
Historyfan40, Acampbell1953, Escarbot, David Ronald, PhiLiP, Motis, Luna Santin, Nipisiquit, Mikenorton, JAnDbot, BeeArkKey,
Natureguy1980, PhilKnight, Pvmoutside, Steven Walling, Catgut, Reale, Countmall, XRiRax, Anaxial, Wlodzimierz, Neriad, Cocoaguy, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Holybarbarian125, NewEnglandYankee, Sd31415, Evb-wiki, Qoou.Anonimu, Allypollyann, Idioma-bot,
VolkovBot, Langrel, Jhon montes24, TXiKiBoT, Vipinhari, SteveStrummer, Sandhillcrane, THC Loadee, Muhammad Mahdi Karim,
Seb az86556, Hey jude, don't let me down, Enigmaman, Dickie Wang, Ceranthor, Monty845, Ashcatash5, PericlesofAthens, SieBot,
Flyer22, Zahidc, Arolga, Jpr2x, Yerpo, Jimblobodob, Oxymoron83, BBKurt, D3av, Denisarona, Martarius, ClueBot, D0nk3y3, Otolemur
crassicaudatus, Excirial, Art-top, Nicols10, Panellet, Banangraut, Imdaking813, Polarbears12ab, XLinkBot, Dthomsen8, Addbot, Ronhjones, Moosehadley, Bte99, Ashanda, Ka Faraq Gatri, Favonian, Numbo3-bot, Tide rolls, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Babban12, Iroony, Richigi,
AnomieBOT, Rubinbot, JackieBot, Materialscientist, Citation bot, Bob Burkhardt, ..24, Dan Murphy, Xqbot, Ingii, RibotBOT,
Brambleshire, Aberta, JulianDelphiki, SchnitzelMannGreek, Thehelpfulbot, HJ Mitchell, Ragha joshi, Pinethicket, Edderso, Walterbishop,
Tigrex1995, Andysprariee, Pikiwyn, Fumitol, Abnyc81, Callanecc, Innotata, Beyond My Ken, EmausBot, Immunize, Shaylindra, Maxim
Gavrilyuk, ZroBot, Ganesh Paudel, Lawl95, Yfting, DASHBotAV, 11geosno, Metamorphosed Fossil, ClueBot NG, Movses-bot, JavierAlonso, Rezabot, Telpardec, Reemi123, MerlIwBot, Hemantsonar, Helpful Pixie Bot, Alex E. Clarke, Khaled0147, Ornithodiez, Mrt3366,
RockinRobbie53, Aymankamelwiki, Justtheviolingirl, Acetotyce, Schijelen, Leoesb1032, YiFeiBot, Csjawale, Johnnythezebra, Michael
Palmer and Anonymous: 210

8.2

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File:Beytika_bick_nr.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Beytika_bic%C3%BBk_n%C3%AAr.jpg

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License: Public domain Contributors: Gould, John, 1804-1881; Sharpe, Richard Bowdler, 1847-1909: Birds of Asia., Volume V, London, [1] Original artist: John Gould
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