Scientific name: Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Sparrows
Field characters. 15 cm. Probably the most ubiquitous and best-known bird; has been introduced in many parts of the world. Distribution is more strongly correlated with human presence than any other bird. Male has dark grey crown, rufous brown neck, black 'bib' extending to upper chest, light grey cheeks and underparts, warm brown upperparts and wings, streaked with black, conspicuous white wing-bar, greyish rump and dark brown tail. Female and juvenile are similar: much duller in colouration than male, with brown upperparts, washed with grey and streaked with darker brown on wings and back; underparts uniform grey with buff tinge. Male is duller in winter, with less obvious head markings; 'bib' is present at all seasons. Highly gregarious; often seen in flocks of dozens, both in the field and during roosting. The subspecies known as Italian Sparrow (P. d. italiae, a stabilised hybrid of P. hispaniolensis x P. domesticus) has darker upperparts, lighter underparts and uniform rufous brown head, rather like Spanish Sparrow.
Voice. Very noisy; call most often heard is a loud "cheep" and variations thereof. Other twittering and chirping noises are also produced.
Distribution. Predominantly a very common resident; during harsh winters, northernmost populations may migrate to more densely populated areas; declining.
Habitat. Almost exclusively in the immediate vicinity of human settlements; in non-breeding season, may be found far from human habitation.
Food. An omnivorous ground-feeder; young largely fed with small invertebrates taken from trees, will take anything available -within constraints of dietary requirements- from corn, fruits and seeds to human refuse of all kinds, such as kitchen offal and stale bread.