House sparrow

Passer domesticus · The house sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family found in most parts of the world.

Also called English sparrow.

House sparrow
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
House sparrow
Photo: Terragio67, CC BY-SA 4.0
House sparrow
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPasseridae
GenusPasser
SpeciesPasser domesticus

Where it lives

Native to Eurasia and North Africa; now near people on every inhabited continent.

Fun facts

  • House sparrows have been recorded breeding in an English coal mine 640 m below ground.
  • Clever house sparrows have learned to open automatic doors to get into supermarkets in search of food.
  • Female house sparrows are the dominant ones at feeding stations and nests, even though they are smaller than the males.
  • Captive house sparrows have been recorded diving and swimming short distances under water.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).