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The dinner table of house sparrows gets nicely filled near people – something will always spill over. Mobile and active birds, living in flocks; on the outskirts of cities and settlements go foraging together with pigeons. The „street urchins” are quarrel­some, audacious, and, because of their nightquarters, have a somewhat unkempt look. Just try to keep clean when you have to go sleeping in chimneys ...

 

In a feeding sparrow flock it is quite easy to recognize who is who. Only the male bird has a black chin patch, grey head and a chestnut brown stripe going from the eye. The female bird’s feathering is more discreet, note the pale eyestripe. Young birds resemble the female, but leave a duller general impression. Arne’s photo is a very good crib.
 

The winter numbers of the house sparrow is estimated at more than 250,000.