Photography of Birds – Set # 269
Set # 269
House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is a very social bird. It is gregarious during all seasons when feeding, often forming flocks with other species of birds. It roosts communally and while breeding nests are usually grouped together in clumps. House sparrows also engage in social activities such as dust or water bathing and “social singing”, in which birds call together in bushes. The house sparrow feeds mostly on the ground, but it flocks in trees and bushes. At feeding stations and nests, female house sparrows are dominant despite their smaller size, and they can fight over males in the breeding season.
Field Sparrow
Adults have brown upperparts, a buffy breast, a white belly, two whitish wing bars and a dark-brown forked tail. They have a grey face, a rusty crown, a white eye ring and a pink bill. They have rusty markings behind the eye. There are grey and rufous colour variants. Males are females have a similar appearance with males being slightly larger than females.
Ā© HJ Ruiz – Avian101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
Is the House Sparrow you’re featuring here the same species that’s been introduced to South Africa, H.J? And if so, are they native to the USA or also introduced?
“The first of many successful introductions to North America occurred when birds from England were released in New York City, in 1852, intended to control the ravages of the linden moth. In North America, the house sparrow now occurs from the Northwest Territories of Canada to southern Panama, and it is one of the most abundant birds of the continent. The house sparrow was first introduced to Australia in 1863 at Melbourne and is common throughout the eastern part of the continent as far north as Cape York.”
Thank you, D. š
That’s exactly how they ended up here, H.J, and now they are widespread through the entire country.
Wonderful to see your sparrow series today, HJ. You reminded me how much I like hearing the bushes in town filled with singing house sparrows. You can’t see anything, but the foliage is emanating with song.
I don’t know about California sparrows, but here in GA you can see them running in parking lots, they are in parks, even in stores like Walmart and Home Depot, just go to the plants and flowers sections. Thank you very much, Jet. š
It’s like that here in Calif. too, HJ. Fun.
I love Field Sparrows. House Sparrows (simply called Sparrows in Great Britain) are so common in my yard I sometimes have to struggle to appreciate them. I think we have more in the US now than there are in Europe. If nothing else they are really feisty this time of year – the males are fighting over territories or mates, I imagine. You have captured the hen in a beautiful light. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Lisa. I agree with your opinion. š