House sparrows have adapted conical beaks and a specialized bone in their tongues that helps them eat seeds efficiently.
House sparrows are insectivorous (insect-eating) and granivorous (grain-eating) songbirds with stout conical beaks, stubby squared-off tails, and small plump bodies. House sparrows and Ontario’s native sparrow species belong in different families, with Ontario’s natives belonging to the Passerellidae family (new world sparrows), while house sparrows belong to the Passeridae family (old world sparrows). Native to Eurasia, northern Africa, and most of Europe, this species became invasive following their intentional release into Brooklyn in the mid-1800s as a control method to decrease linden moth populations (Barlow, 2015). Today, this avian invader has made most of North America its home.
Male and female house sparrows will typically grow to be similar sizes, with both sexes capable of reaching a body length of 15-17 cm and wingspans of 19-25 cm (The Cornell Lab of Ornithology). This species displays sexual dimorphism (sexes of the same species display different morphological characteristics); males have more vibrant and distinct colouration (specifically during breeding season), whereas females and juveniles appear more monotone and streaky brown.
The appearance of males will vary depending on the season. Males will be the easiest to identify throughout the breeding season and display the most distinct markings and colouration, with their patterned heads being the most recognizable during this time. Breeding males have a grey-coloured crown, a rufus/chestnut brown-coloured stripe behind the eye that extends down into the nape, a black throat that sometimes extends into the upper chest, white/light grey lower chest and belly, and brown and black striping located on the wings and mantle (area between the wings on birds’ back). Breeding males will usually have a black beak.
