Scientific Name: Passer domesticus
Malay Name: Pipit Ubun Kelabu
Chinese Name: 家麻雀
Range: Found from North Africa to Europe, Middle East, temperate Asia and Indochina. Introduced to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: domesticus, balearoibericus, biblicus, hyrcanus, persicus, indicus, bactrianus, parkini, hufufae, tingitanus, niloticus, rufidorsalis.
Size: 15 cm
Identification: Male has grey crown, whitish head-sides contrasting with black mask, lores, chin, throat and upperbreast, broad chestnut band from eye to nape-sides, greyish-white underparts and dull chestnut mantle with pale brownish and blackish streaks. Female is rather nondescript brownish, with paler supercilium and underparts. Also resembles female weavers but lacks streaks on head and underparts.
Similar looking species: Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Habitat: Town and villages.
Behaviour/Ecology: Roosts communally in buildings.
Local Status: Very rare introduced resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)
Location: The population at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre appeared to be extirpated. The last remaining stronghold of this species is at Jurong Island.
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (House Sparrow)
References:
BirdLife International. (2019). Passer domesticus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T103818789A155522130.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). House Sparrow. Retrieved on December 6, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/house-sparrow.