Page 378 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SPARROWS
Order Passeriformes Family Passeridae Species Passer hispaniolensis
Spanish Sparrow

red-brown
broken white cap
line over eye
chestnut wings
with white bar black bib
obscured by large white
pale edges cheek patch
cream streaks
MALE on black back
(SUMMER)

MALE
(WINTER)
IN FLIGHT
thick bill

sometimes has close black streaks
soft grey streaking on underside
below
FEMALE MALE (SUMMER)
uch like the House Sparrow but, in summer, more brightly
Mand strikingly patterned, the Spanish Sparrow is essentially a
southeast European bird, and not actually common in Spain.Where
House Sparrows are sparse it may take over that species’ role in FLIGHT: quick, low, whirring, like House Sparrow,
towns, but in many areas, it is a bird of farmland and damp places with occasional momentary closures of wings.
with willow thickets. It is highly social, sometimes DIFFICULT TEST
found in large flocks and breeding in colonies. In This female is clearly streaked, but
Italy, the sparrows seem to be a constant form of most female Spanish Sparrows are
hybrid between Spanish and House Sparrows. very difficult to distinguish from
VOICE Slightly higher and more metallic than female House Sparrows.
House Sparrow’s; loud chirruping, fast chorus from
flock or colony.
NESTING Bulky nest of grass, in thicket, or in base
of stick nest of stork or heron, often in tall willows
or other wetland thicket, in colony; 3–7 eggs; 1 or 2
broods;April–July.
FEEDING Eats seeds and berries, mostly from
ground; feeds insects to chicks.
SIMILAR SPECIES
HOUSE SPARROW 32; ITALIAN SPARROW TREE SPARROW OCCURRENCE
see p.375 (P. d. italiae); see p.377
see p.375 Local breeding bird in Spain,
grey crown black cheek Sardinia, and Sicily, more frequent
on male less white spot
no over eye (but in summer only) in Balkans. In
streaking farmland, villages, and wet places
below with willow thickets and tall trees.
faint streaking Seen in the UK
below JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 14–16cm (5 1 ⁄2 –6 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 20–22cm (8–9in) Weight 20–25g ( 11 ⁄16 – 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 2–5 years Status Secure†
376