© Photo by Mark Hamblin/2020VISION House Sparrow Passer domesticus House Sparrows are familiar birds of towns and cities, parks, gardens and farmland. © Photo by Amy Lewis House Sparrows feed on all sorts, including buds, grains, nuts and scraps, and will visit bird-tables and feeders. They live in colonies and nest in holes or crevices in buildings, among ivy or other bushes, and in nestboxes; they’ll use a variety of materials to make their nest, from string to paper. Both parents will incubate the eggs (between three and five) and raise the young. House Sparrows are residents in the UK, but may disperse from their breeding grounds to feed on nearby farmland and grassland in winter. How to Identify Male House Sparrows are streaky-brown above and grey below. They have chestnut wings with white wingbars, a black bib (the size of which indicates their status) and a grey cap. Females and juveniles are a drab brown. Males can be distinguished from Tree Sparrows by their grey crown and grey cheeks without a black spot. Where to Find Widespread. How People Can Help Once a common and opportunistic bird of man-made habitats, the House Sparrow is declining at an alarming rate both in gardens and the wider countryside. A lack of winter stubble on farmland, decreasing numbers of insects due to increased use of pesticides and an increase in predation by domestic pets, have all taken their toll. But The Wildlife Trusts are helping to protect House Sparrows by working closely with farmers, landowners and developers to promote wildlife-friendly practices. You can help too: food, water and nesting places (boxes or natural planting) for them. Did you know? Originally native to Europe and Asia, House Sparrows have been introduced by man to every continent apart from Antarctica, being found from Buenos Aires to Alaska, from New Zealand to Cape Town. They are now the most widespread birds in the world. Key FactsLength: 14cmWingspan: 24cmWeight: 34gAverage lifespan: 3 years Donate Donate to help support House Sparrows and other wildlife. Donate Similar Species Barn Owl Birds Black-Headed Gull Birds Blackbird Birds Blackcap Birds Blue Tit Birds Bullfinch Birds Buzzard Birds Canada Goose Birds Carrion Crow Birds Chaffinch Birds Chiffchaff Birds Coal Tit Birds Collared Dove Birds Coot Birds Crossbill Birds Cuckoo Birds Curlew Birds Dipper Birds Dunnock Birds Fieldfare Birds Goldcrest Birds Golden Plover Birds Goldfinch Birds Goosander Birds Great Spotted Woodpecker Birds Great Tit Birds Greenfinch Birds Grey Heron Birds Grey Wagtail Birds Hen Harrier Birds Herring Gull Birds Jackdaw Birds Jay Birds Kestrel Birds Kingfisher Birds Lapwing Birds Linnet Birds Little Egret Birds Little Grebe Birds Long-Tailed Tit Birds Magpie Birds Mallard Birds Mandarin Duck Birds Meadow Pipit Birds Merlin Birds Mistle Thrush Birds Moorhen Birds Nightjar Birds Nuthatch Birds Peregrine falcon Birds Redwing Birds Robin Birds Rook Birds Siskin Birds Skylark Birds Snipe Birds Song Thrush Birds Sparrowhawk Birds Starling Birds Swallow Birds Swift Birds Tawny owl Birds Tree Sparrow Birds Treecreeper Birds Waxwing Birds Wheatear Birds Whitethroat Birds Willow Warbler Birds Wood Pigeon Birds Wood Warbler Birds Wren Birds