House Sparrow

birds · cities · widespread

Found everywhere. House sparrows live on nearly every continent because humans have accidentally or on purpose brought them to new places. This makes them the most widely distributed wild bird in the world.

Tiny feathered friend. A house sparrow is only about 6 inches long and weighs less than an ounce, roughly the weight of a slice of bread. Despite their tiny size, they're hardy little birds that survive in many climates.

Easy to spot males. Male house sparrows show off bright black, white, and brown patterns on their heads and bodies. Female sparrows and young birds are much plainer with pale brown and grey feathers, making them harder to notice.

Native to three continents. House sparrows originally came from Europe, the Mediterranean area, and much of Asia. From there, they spread to Africa, Australia, and the Americas, mostly by hitching rides with traveling humans.

One of many cousins. There are 28 different species in the sparrow genus called Passer, but the house sparrow is by far the most successful at living near people.