Sparrows are small brown or gray colored birds you often see chirping in your garden or backyard. These tennis ball sized birds are found across all the continents in the world and are therefore particularly famous among bird lovers.
The scientific name of these birds is Passer Domesticus. Sadly, these birds are often given less importance and their species are often confused with the other birds. You can’t blame them, with over 130 species of Sparrows how can you not!
For the love of Sparrows we have curated the Sparrow identification charts below to give you a better understanding of its various species.
Table of Contents
Types of Sparrows
According to The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) there are almost 138 species of Sparrows in the World which are distributed among 30 genera. Regardless of the type of the sparrow these birds are small in size and weigh less than half an ounce on average.
Different species of Sparrows differ on the basis of their crown and throat structure. You can also use these distinctive features to identify between the male and female Sparrows. Typically these birds have strong and short beaks to crack open nuts, eat seed and to catch insects.
The most common type of Sparrow you might find is the House Sparrow which is approximately 16 cm long and weighs between 0.85 to 1.39 oz. Have a look at the various other common types in the Sparrow identification chart pdf given below.
| Sparrow Type | Region Found | Distinct Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| House Sparrow | Worldwide | Small size, gray-brown plumage, black bib on males |
| Song Sparrow | North America | Streaked brown plumage, long tail, melodious singing |
| White-crowned Sparrow | North America | Bold black and white head stripes, grayish-brown back, pink bill |
| Chipping Sparrow | North America | Rust-colored crown, black eyeliner, clean gray underparts |
| Tree Sparrow | Eurasia | Brown upperparts, whitish underparts, distinct black cheek spot |
| Field Sparrow | North America | Plain grayish-brown plumage, pink bill, pinkish legs |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | North America | Buffy face with fine streaks, brown back with darker streaks |
| Savannah Sparrow | North America | Streaked brown upperparts, pale underparts with fine streaking |
| Fox Sparrow | North America | Rusty plumage with heavily streaked underparts, large bill |
| Vesper Sparrow | North America | Streaked gray-brown upperparts, white eye-ring, white outer tail feathers |
| Swamp Sparrow | North America | Rich chestnut plumage, gray face, bold white throat stripe |
| Brewer’s Sparrow | North America | Plain gray-brown plumage, small bill, pale stripe above eye |
Also read: Hummingbird Id Chart
House Sparrow Names in Different Languages and Regions
A House Sparrow is a famous species of the bird Sparrow that belongs to the Old World Family of Sparrows. These birds have a distinctive black bib on their chest while their female counterparts have brownish-gray chest which is not so vibrant.
This species of the world is widely across all continents and have different names in different regions. If you are a bird enthusiast then you are in luck because we are unraveling the famous House Sparrow names in different languages.
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | House Sparrow |
| Spanish | Gorrión Común |
| French | Moineau Domestique |
| German | Haussperling |
| Italian | Passera Comune |
| Portuguese | Pardal-doméstico |
| Russian | Домовый воробей |
| Chinese | 家麻雀 |
| Japanese | スズメ |
| Hindi | घरेलू गौरैया |
| Arabic | عصفور البيت |
| Dutch | Huismus |
| Swedish | Gråsparv |
| Finnish | Harmaasirkku |
| Turkish | Ev Serçesi |
Also read: Owl Identification Chart
Male and Female Sparrow Identification
Both the genders display distinct behaviors with all the Sparrow species. However, some may have similar coloring and markings making it difficult to identify them. Here is a Sparrow id chart illustrating the 4 distinct characteristics that can help you differentiate between male and female Sparrow:
| Characteristics | Features |
| Plumage and coloration | Male Sparrows are more vibrant, with dark heads, streaks of chestnut, and black throat bands. Male Sparrows are more vibrant, with dark heads, streaks of chestnut, and black throat bands. Male Sparrows are more vibrant, with dark heads, streaks of chestnut, and black throat bands. Male Sparrows are more vibrant, with dark heads, streaks of chestnut, and black throat bands. Male Sparrows are more vibrant, with dark heads, streaks of chestnut, and black throat bands. – Female Sparrows have brown heads and pale brown throats. |
| Size | Males tend to be slightly bigger than females in various species. – Median mass for both sexes is approximately 1.1g, with young birds being smaller. – Young male Sparrows are larger in winter, while young females may grow bigger in the breeding season. |
| Beak | Beak size and shape may differ between males and females. – For example, male House Sparrows have slightly larger beaks than females. |
| Behavior | Males may display changing behavior during the breeding season, including singing or displaying to attract mates. |
Also read: House Sparrow Egg Id Chart
Conclusion
Sparrows are the birds that are very popular and their popularity can be traced back to ancient Greek where they were associated as Aphrodite, the goddess of love, due to their perceived lustfulness.
If you are a bird lover then you have so many species of Sparrows that you can explore. To know more about the different species of this chirping little bird follow the Sparrow identification chart above.