Species › Birds › House Sparrow

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

CommonBird
Illustration of House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

The House Sparrow was introduced to Brooklyn, New York in 1851 and is now the most abundant bird on Earth, inhabiting every continent except Antarctica. Male's chestnut, gray, and black plumage and black bib distinguish the sexes. It is a cavity nester that aggressively competes with native species such as bluebirds and Tree Swallows for nesting sites.

Habitat
Cities, farms, suburbs, and wherever humans live
Diet
Grains, seeds, insects, and food scraps
How common
Common

Best time to see a House Sparrow

The best time to see a House Sparrow is January–June, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 209,238 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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