House Sparrow

House Sparrow

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.

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.

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