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Pair of house sparrows 

The house sparrow should be one of the most numerous bird species in the world – together with man, they have reached all continents of the world, except the poles. In cities, they were very numerous when the roads were still cobblestone paved, goods were brought to the shops by horse and pleasant “baths” could be had in the street dust. And it was not so very long ago – only half a century back. Since that time the number of the „street urchins“ has gone down clearly. The house sparrow, a very stationary bird, should still be represented by more than a hundred thousand birds in winter. They are some ten grams heavier than the tree sparrows with whom they keep company in winter, and this is clearly visible – their weight is about thirty grams, they are chubbier and also have a larger beak.

 

The plumage is brighter for the males, the back is chestnut brown, with yellow and black. The female birds have a duller back plumage: grey, with black and beige. The brownish wings both have a white band and black lengthwise stripes. The underparts are sparrow grey, legs are light brown.

 

The male bird has a black chin patch, lacking in the female birds, the crown and cheeks are grey, the iris is reddish brown. The plumage of the female sparrow looks pale brown and does not have very strong contrasting bands. The eyebrow line is yellowish, but see from Arne`s photo or observe them in the city. Some look rather like “soot spooks“ after having spent the night in a chimney and the earlier description of the plumage does not fit them at all.

 

The reckless behaviour of the „street urchins“ at the bird feeder fits their name – they arrive in a group, cause confusion among other birds, the food flies everywhere and they are gone... The sparrows are not the early birds in the morning and like to hop around in the daytime under the bird feeder picking up food. They know how to stand up for their rights, they are quick, arrogant, noisy and fearless in front of the bigger ones. Well needed properties for staying alive in the market economy.