House sparrow Passer domesticus


Identification Tips:

Adult male:

Female and immature:

Similar species:

The adult male House Sparrow is quite distinctive but might be confused with the very local Eurasian Tree Sparrow (St. Louis, Missouri). The Eurasian Tree Sparrow has a black spot on the ear coverts and an entirely brown crown. The female House Sparrow looks somewhat similar to a number of species of sparrows but has unstreaked underparts, tawny streaks on the back, and a large yellowish bill. The female Dickcissel also has a large bill but it is gray, not yellow, and usually has some yellow in the face and a rusty patch in the wing.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.