House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Morphology 3

The House Sparrow is a stout, stocky sparrow, with shorter legs and a thicker bill than indigenous American sparrows. Members of both sexes are brown backed with black streaks throughout this area. Its underside is pale buff. Males have white cheeks and a black bib, while females do not. The tail is usually three-quarters the length of the wing. Wing length is 76 mm and average mass is 28.5 grams.

Biology 4

House sparrows feed mainly on seeds, but in the breeding season the adults will take some animal matter (mainly insects), and feed their young on insects for the first part of the nestling period (9). It is a regular visitor to garden bird tables and feeders (5). This sociable species nests in colonies, the untidy feather-lined nests are built in crevices and holes in buildings, tree holes and nest boxes (4). House sparrows are also known to occasionally evict other species of birds from their nests, subsequently occupying them (6). During the breeding season, house sparrows mate very frequently, so much so that their eggs were once highly prized as aphrodisiacs (6). After May, 3-5 whitish, blotched eggs are laid (4). The female incubates the eggs for up to 14 days, after which time both parents share the task of feeding the young for around 15 days (4). Three or more broods may be produced every breeding season (4). The gregarious nature of this sparrow is often most obvious during winter, when most activities including feeding, roosting and bathing, are carried out in groups or large flocks (5).

Yukon Invasive Species 5

These species occur in low numbers and therefore are not expected to have a remarkable impact on native species. There is currently a population of House Sparrows in downtown Whitehorse.

For more information visit: Yukon Invasive Species Council

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Keith Marshall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4143585089_2a01b5bfbf.jpg
  2. (c) fra298, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/fra298/17308320088/
  3. (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31413444
  4. (c) Wildscreen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/5669829
  5. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

Range Map

iNaturalist.ca Map

Color brown, grey
Animal Birds (Aves)