Discover Nature at JCU Animals Birds by scientific name Passer domesticus

Passer domesticus

Male and Female Sparrows

(House sparrow)

FAMILY

Passeridae

Species

Passer domesticus

Common name

House sparrow

Main colour(s)

Brown with white and black

Distinctive feature

Chattering, black or brown bill on male, female pale coloured, size 15 cm

Campus

Cairns, Townsville

Description

These widespread birds introduced in 1860’s can be found in all urban areas. Male: head with a blue-grey cap, throat black, back, wings and tail brown mixed with white, black and grey, underparts buff-coloured. Female: cap and back light brown to darker brown with black, white and grey markings, underparts buff-coloured. Legs and feet grey, eyes black, bill dark in male, pale in female. Photograph courtesy Ian Montgomery, www.birdway.com.au