House Sparrow Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesHouse Sparrow

Breeding male

A chunky full-breasted bird with a round head and a stout bill. Breeding males have gray crowns, white cheeks, a black bib, and a chestnut neck.

Female

Full-bodied bird of urban environments with a stout bill. Females are a plain buffy-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts. Their backs are noticeably striped with buff, black, and brown.

Breeding male

Song is a series of two-parted cheep or chirrup notes, given throughout much of the year. Females sometimes sing as well. Breeding males have a broad black bib, whitish cheek, and chestnut head with gray crown.

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Nonbreeding/immature

Nonbreeding males are streaked brown, black, and buffy above and dingy below. They lack the bright chestnut neck and extensive black bib of breeding males. Note yellowish bill on nonbreeding birds.

Breeding male

Breeding males' upperparts are richly patterned in chestnut and black.

Female (with American Tree Sparrow)

Often comes to feeders or eats fallen seeds. Females are stocky and buffy-brown with gray-brown underparts. Note the stout bill, striped back, and broad, pale eyebrow stripe.

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Juvenile

Juveniles look similar to females. This individual shows a yellow gape typical of a recently fledged bird.

Breeding male

Stocky Old World sparrow with a stout bill. The male's bib becomes darker black as the breeding season approaches.

Nonbreeding male

Eats mainly seeds but may eat berries as well. Nonbreeding males have a yellowish bill and reduced black on the breast.

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Female

Females have light brownish underparts and darker upperparts with a mix of brown, black, and tan. Note also the white wingbar. The thick bill is mostly pale, but darker on top. Females are a plain buffy-brown overall with dingy gray-brown underparts. Their backs are noticeably striped with buff, black, and brown.

Nonbreeding/immature

Compared to breeding males, nonbreeding and immature males have less black on the throat and breast and a yellowish (not black) bill.

Male and female

Nests in tree cavities and birdhouses, including Purple Martin houses. House Sparrows are aggressive and may evict other species to take over their nest sites.

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Breeding male

Feeds mostly on grains and seeds using thick bill. Readily eats millet, milo, sunflower, and other seeds at birdfeeders.

Breeding male

Nest in holes of buildings and other structures such as streetlights, gas-station roofs, signs, and the overhanging fixtures that hold traffic lights. Also nests in nest boxes and competes with other species for them.

Habitat

Associated with human development. Found in cities, parks, zoos, suburban areas, and around farm buildings.

Similar SpeciesEurasian Tree Sparrow

Adult

Eurasian Tree Sparrows, which live around St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States have an entirely rufous crown and a dark spot on the cheek unlike the grayish-cheeked House Sparrow.

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Similar SpeciesDickcissel

Female

The female Dickcissel has a longer, heavier bill than a female House Sparrow. It also has a yellow eyebrow that the House Sparrow does not have.

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Similar SpeciesBlack-throated Sparrow

Adult

Black-throated Sparrows have a white eyebrow and mustache stripe not seen on House Sparrows.

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Similar SpeciesHarris's Sparrow

Nonbreeding adult

Harris's Sparrows have a plain brown face, without the male House Sparrow's white cheeks and chestnut neck.

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Similar SpeciesWhite-crowned Sparrow

Immature

Juvenile White-crowned Sparrows have reddish-brown crowns and thin white wingbars, whereas female House Sparrows have a pale brown crown without distinct wingbars.

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