Passer domesticus
(House Sparrow)

Physical Description:
Length 6.25" Male in breeding plumage has a gray crown, chestnut nape, and black bib, which is edged with gray in fresh fall plumage. Female has a streaked back, buffy eyeline, and unstreaked breast.

Song:
The call is a series of "cheeps" that can become a chatter when in a group.

Distribution:
Introduced initially in 1850 in Brooklyn, New York. Now established from central British Columbia, and the Mackenzie, central Saskatchewan, central Ontario southern Quebec, and Newfoundland south thorugh the continental United States.

Habitat:
Information is not available at this time.

Diet:
Insects and spiders, forb seeds, blossoms, and seeds in livestock feces.

Ecology:
A highly adaptable and social species that originally was dependent on farms and livestock. Its popluations decreased with the decline of horses and the subsequent increase in automobiles, but has moved into urban environments, where bird feeders are frequented. It is still abundant around farmsteads and any human habitation.

Reproduction:
Nest in an artificial or natural cavity, and occasionally in a ball of grass with a hole in the side, which is lined with hair and feathers. The female lays 4-6 eggs, which she alone incubates for 10-13 days. The altricial young are fed insects and seed pulp by both parents for 14-17 more days.

Conservation:

Element Code:	ABPBZ01010
Status:	Nongame species
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S?
National Rank:	NE5

Important State References:
No references are available at this time.