House Sparrow vs Song Sparrow
The check that settles it
Heavily streaked below with a central breast spot, and a face patterned in brown and grey. Female house sparrows are plain below.
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
- Size
- 14–18 cm
- Bill
- conical
- Where
- city, feeder, yard
- Voice
- A monotonous, endlessly repeated 'cheep, cheep'. Not a song so much as a statement.
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
- Size
- 12–17 cm
- Bill
- conical
- Where
- yard, marsh, feeder, open field
- Voice
- Three or four clear introductory notes, then a jumbled trill. Highly variable between individuals.
Confirming a house sparrow
- Male: a black bib and a grey crown with a chestnut band behind the eye.
- Female: plain buff-brown, unstreaked below, with a pale stripe behind the eye and no facial pattern.
- Almost always around buildings, car parks and pavements rather than in cover.
Confirming a song sparrow
- A dark central spot where the breast streaks converge.
- Coarse streaking below, not fine.
- Broad grey eyebrow with a brown stripe above it.
- Pumps its tail in flight.