House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Species
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Male. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on January 16th 2016.
Male. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on January 16th 2016. (© David Hastings)
(1/250th sec at f10. Click image for larger version)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Female. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on December 25th 2010.
Female. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on December 25th 2010. (© David Hastings)
(1/80th sec at f6.3. Click image for larger version)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Juvenile. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on April 29th 2017.
Juvenile. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on April 29th 2017. (© David Hastings)
(1/160th sec at f10. Click image for larger version)

Description

L: 14 - 16cm

The House Sparrow is a well-known bird, as it lives and breeds in proximity to humans both in rural and urban areas. The main diagnostic feathure is that males have grey crowns. Females are rather drab.

It can be found throughout the British Isles, other than the Scottish highlands.

It can utilise a variety of habitats, from the centres of cities to farmland, but always close to people.

House Sparrows are very social birds, even when breeding, and can form large flocks.

The House Sparrow is a Red list species, owing to a significant population decline between 1977 and 2008. Even so, there are around 5.3 million pairs in the UK.

Sightings

01-Jan-2025 : Aston, Oxon

04-Mar-2024 : Aston, Oxon
24-Feb-2024 : Aston, Oxon
01-Jan-2024 : Aston, Oxon

17-Dec-2023 : Aston, Oxon
07-Nov-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos
01-May-2023 : Elan Valley, Powys
28-Apr-2023 : Aston, Oxon
15-Apr-2023 : Aston, Oxon
26-Mar-2023 : Aston, Oxon
27-Feb-2023 : Aston, Oxon
19-Jan-2023 : Slimbridge, Glos
15-Jan-2023 : Aston, Oxon
01-Jan-2023 : Aston, Oxon

06-Dec-2022 : Aston, Oxon
01-Dec-2022 : Aston, Oxon
09-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon
03-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon
15-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon
04-May-2022 : Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion (1)
02-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon
01-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon
27-Apr-2022 : Aston, Oxon
23-Apr-2022 : Aston, Oxon
25-Mar-2022 : Aston, Oxon
16-Mar-2022 : Aston, Oxon (2)
13-Mar-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
01-Jan-2022 : Abingdon, Oxon

01-Aug-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (12)
21-Jul-2021 : Banbury, Oxon (12+)
15-Jun-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
31-May-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (4juv)
29-May-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon
22-May-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (4)
07-May-2021 : Graven Hill, Oxon (2)
17-Apr-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (6)
27-Mar-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (8)
02-Jan-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (7)
01-Jan-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (5)

04-Apr-2020 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
01-Feb-2020 : Branthill Farm, Norfolk
01-Jan-2020 : Abingdon, Oxon (c20)

15-Apr-2019 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
17-Jan-2019 : Slimbridge, Glos
01-Jan-2019 : Abingdon, Oxon (12+)

12-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain
23-Jul-2018 : Vercors Natural Park, France
22-Feb-2018 : Abingdon, Oxon (c30)
18-Jan-2018 : Slimbridge, Glos
01-Jan-2018 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)

10-Dec-2017 : Abingdon, Oxon (15+)
19-Sep-2017 : Portland Bill, Dorset (16)
22-Jul-2017 : Abingdon, Oxon (3)
11-Jun-2017 : Velebits National Park, Croatia
06-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia
05-Jun-2017 : Irinovac, Croatia
01-Jan-2017 : Abingdon, Oxon (8+)

31-Dec-2016 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
05-Nov-2016 : Playa de Los Lances, Spain
04-Nov-2016 : Huerta Grande, Spain
18-Jun-2016 : Abingdon, Oxon (6+)
31-Jan-2016 : Abingdon, Oxon (12+)
16-Jan-2016 : Abingdon, Oxon (12+)
01-Jan-2016 : Abingdon, Oxon (c16)

08-Nov-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (12+)
01-Nov-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
19-Sep-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (c10)
23-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria
22-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria
21-Jul-2015 : Melnik, Bulgaria
08-Feb-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (12+)
17-Jan-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (12+)
11-Jan-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (15)
01-Jan-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)

06-Dec-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (14+)
21-Jun-2014 : Byal gradets, Bulgaria
19-Jun-2014 : Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria
12-May-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (4juv)
09-May-2014 : Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion
08-Mar-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon
01-Feb-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (14)
25-Jan-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (16+)
18-Jan-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (16+)
11-Jan-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
04-Jan-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (c12)
02-Jan-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (11)
01-Jan-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (c10)

07-Dec-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (20)
28-Sep-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
29-Jun-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (10)
15-May-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon
01-May-2013 : The Camargue, France
30-Mar-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (15+)
16-Mar-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (18)
09-Mar-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (15)
02-Mar-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (c12)
23-Feb-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (20+)
18-Jan-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (20)
01-Jan-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (20+)

15-Jun-2012 : Abingdon, Oxon
29-Jan-2012 : Abingdon, Oxon (9)
01-Jan-2012 : Abingdon, Oxon

26-Aug-2011 : Abingdon, Oxon (c20)
05-Mar-2011 : Abingdon, Oxon
30-Jan-2011 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)

19-Dec-2010 : Abingdon, Oxon (10+)
04-Dec-2010 : Abingdon, Oxon
11-Sep-2010 : Nr Tarifa, Spain

20-Dec-2009 : Abingdon, Oxon

29-Nov-2008 : Abingdon, Oxon (c9)
27-Jan-2008 : Abingdon, Oxon (c10)

01-Jan-2007 : Abingdon, Oxon

28-Jan-2006 : Abingdon, Oxon (15)