Bird Facts: The House Sparrow

20 facts you need to know about the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) the most widespread wild bird on the planet. In the video, you will find information about House Sparrow distribution around the world, what they eat, the different plumage of males and females, what the nest is built from, how many eggs are laid, the incubation period, and much more. The video includes House Sparrow calls and why House Sparrows take dust baths.

The House Sparrow is native to most of Europe and Asia, and parts of North Africa. Since the middle of the 19th century it has been widely introduced across the world and is now found on every continent except Antarctica. Its extensive range makes the House Sparrow the most widespread wild bird on the planet.

There are 12 subspecies of House Sparrow. This video features the nominate subspecies, Passer domesticus domesticus, which is found across Europe and northern Asia.

Males have a grey crown on the top of their head, a black bib and grey/white cheeks. Their upperparts are chestnut-brown, streaked with black, and the underparts are grey. Adult females and juveniles of both sexes have plainer plumage. Their upperparts are a lighter brown, streaked with brown and grey, and their underparts are greyish-white. The adult female also has a cream stripe above the eye.

Typical measurements:
Length: 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 in)
Wingspan: 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in)
Weight: 24-38 g (0.85-1.34 oz)

House Sparrows feed mainly on seeds but they will also eat berries, fruits, insects and earthworms.

House Sparrows are very social birds and typically nest in small colonies. Nest sites are varied and can include crevices in buildings and trees, holes in banks and cliffs, and hedges, trees and bushes. The nest is built from coarse vegetation and lined with softer materials like feathers, wool, hair and paper.

The female usually lays between 4 and 5 eggs and incubates them for around two weeks. On hatching, the chicks are featherless and entirely dependent on their parents care. The chicks are fed mainly on insects, with both parents bringing food to the nest. The chicks leave the nest 14-16 days after hatching and are fed by their parents for a further week or so. House Sparrows typically raise two or three broods a year.

House Sparrows are one of many bird species that take dust baths. They create a small hollow and use their wings to help distribute the dust over their body. It’s thought that a dust bath helps Sparrows get rid of parasites, dry skin and excess preen oil.

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Thanks for watching!

[Keapix]

They have so much character. They run around our garden like a pack of raptors! Breeding seasons has increased our sparrows from 3 to 8!

[IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice video Friend! Thank you for sharing it with us!💖👍😎JP

[MrSpanielson]

Lovely footage - especially the dust baths!

[VideoNatur]

So normal and so great! Wonderfull, that you give them space in a video!!! Kind regards, Rolf

[jeandixon]

A delightful video! We have the Cape Sparrow here in the south of Africa, and they are as ubiquitous here as in the rest of the world. These darling little birds chatter en masse in the maple tree outside my window at sunrise as they know their seed bowl gets filled up before I've had my morning coffee 🤎☕😁 (No dust baths in my garden, as we have cats ... which blessedly are useless hunters!)

[davidhoban]

Lovely little video. ..They love the mealworms that I feed them but the Jackdaws have discovered that now. Nevertheless they still manage to grab some as well as feeding on the sunflower seeds.
I used to think that they were plain looking birds but I now think that they are actually quite beautiful. They are very sociable and when sitting in the garden they will continue to feed quite close to me as long as I don't make any sudden movements. Thanks for this 👍

[randolfjones]

Yet another wonderfully filmed and informative video

[pravindurgasahu]

This bird population is declining drastically. We all humans need to conserve them. All 90 born or born before 90s, have memories of this birds in their childhood. I love them and I miss them. I am from India🙏🏻

[JacqJansen]

Always nice to have them in the garden. Great footage.
Greetings Jacq

[karenstanley]

Thank you for the great videos - I really enjoy them

[anniemac]

Lovely video, we have sparrow nests in our roof both front & back of the house every year, occasionally they do a great job of blocking the guttering & producing Niagara Falls for us when there's heavy rain!!

[annemillington]

Really interesting, thanks for your videos - I really enjoy them 🦅

[BioBush]

I read that they have declines 70% from their peak population in the UK. It's strange that they are declining locally even though they are one of the most numerous birds on the planet. Thanks for sharing their facts and calls. It's always interesting to learn something new, even about an everyday bird!

[kevinpatino]

Man this gives me so many memories with house sparrow. Well yeah I see them every time there popular I love them a lot. I remember when I was a kid we had those covering metal shades in 2-3 of the windows every time my buddy used to stay with me, watch me, head back evening they usually slept over laying his head on the beneath his feathers and would wake me up often. Then one day idr but my mom came in mad and basically open door and my mom scared the bird away. He eventually came back the next day. Then year or two we took it off so that end of my journey of house sparrow friend who came to visit me for year or two. Some time layed twigs on the sides as well. So yeah good times good times. Now I live in apartment now where I live so it’s crazy hopefully I can make a buddy one day again future

[davidglow]

So upbeat, so energised..My favourite bird..I recently saw a Magpie eating a tiny sparrow alive..just a horrible sight.

[colinroberts-liob]

I was only just talken to my friend about these little darlens I' come from Wellington NSW and when I was growing up I would see these beautiful birds on my fence big rows of em and now to hear that there not many of them just breaks my heart we can't sit by and allow this to happen this is why GOD put us on this planet knowledge and understanding is the key to GODS 💓 if we just sit by and allow this to happen well then we are no different that the devil I will do everything in my power to helping them if they die then a part of us does as a spirit we have to help these beautiful little birds before it's to late❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[missavawhite]

So aggressive to bluebird’s 😢 they are the number 1 threat to the their nest box

[Art]

They will kill a eastern bluebird if caught in a bluebird nest and take over the bluebird nest🤬

[gboutdoors]

They are really cute birds but they cause a ton of problems like killing natives and are very aggressive towards food so I tend to trap them or dispatch them I never harm the bird an away were it feels pain