Birds of the World

Passeridae : Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

The House Sparrow is the only species of bird I have seen in every single country I have so far visited (over 30 countries on 6 continents). It is strongly associated with human habitation and is quite common in almost every major town and city in the world.

female - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

Between 1969 and 1994 the urban population in the UK suffered a huge decline with numbers decreasing by an estimated 64%. Since then the overall UK population has continued to decline, although the local population of House Sparrows in my garden has dramatically increased from zero in the winter of 2010 to being the commonest bird in my garden this year (2013) with often over 20 individuals present at the feeders.

female - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

male - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

male - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

male - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

female - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

female - Nottinghamshire, England - November 2013

male - Trebon, Czech Republic - April 2008

Adult male fighting a male Greenfinch - Trebon, Czech Republic - April 2008

male (left) & female (right) - Lesvos, Greece - May 2006

female - Dumfriesshire, Scotland - November 2002

female indicus - Goa, India - December 2004