sparrow | bird | Britannica

sparrow, any of a number of small, chiefly seed-eating birds having conical bills. The name sparrow is most firmly attached to birds of the Old World family ... sparrow Sections&Media Article Introduction FastFacts RelatedContent Media Images AdditionalInfo MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Science Birds,Reptiles&OtherVertebrates Birds sparrow bird Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/sparrow More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites BritannicaWebsites ArticlesfromBritannicaEncyclopediasforelementaryandhighschoolstudents. sparrow-Children'sEncyclopedia(Ages8-11) sparrow-StudentEncyclopedia(Ages11andup) By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica | ViewEditHistory sparrow Seeallmedia RelatedTopics: dunnock housesparrow treesparrow chippingsparrow rufous-collaredsparrow ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ sparrow,anyofanumberofsmall,chieflyseed-eatingbirdshavingconicalbills.ThenamesparrowismostfirmlyattachedtobirdsoftheOldWorldfamilyPasseridae(orderPasseriformes),particularlytothehousesparrow(Passerdomesticus)thatissocommonintemperateNorthAmericaandEurope,butalsotomanyNewWorldmembersoftheEmberizidae.MostmembersoftheNewWorldfamilyEmberizidaearecalledsparrows.ExamplesbreedinginNorthAmericaarethechippingsparrow(Spizellapasserina)andthetreesparrow(S.arborea),trim-lookinglittlebirdswithreddish-browncaps;thesavannasparrow(Passerculussandwichensis)andthevespersparrow(Pooecetesgramineus),finelystreakedbirdsofgrassyfields;thesongsparrow(Melospizamelodia)andthefoxsparrow(Passerellailiaca),heavilystreakedskulkersinwoodlands;andthewhite-crownedsparrow(Zonotrichialeucophrys)andthewhite-throatedsparrow(Z.albicollis),largerspecieswithblack-and-whitecrownstripes.Therufous-collaredsparrow(Z.capensis)hasanexceptionallywidebreedingdistribution:fromMexicoandCaribbeanislandstoTierradelFuego.AgreatmanyemberizidsparrowsarenativetoCentralandSouthAmerica.Seealsoaccentor.Chippingsparrows(Spizellapasserina)fromeggstoadulthood.©BethVanTrees/Shutterstock.comFoxsparrow(Passerellailiaca).©BrianHansenStockPhotography/Shutterstock.comwhite-crownedsparrowWhite-crownedsparrow(Zonotrichialeucophrys),MontrosePointBirdSanctuary,Chicago.©RichPallardy BritannicaQuiz KnowYourBirdsQuiz:PartOne Whatflightlessbirdstoodonemetretall,livedontheislandofMauritius,andbecameextinctinthe17thcentury?Feathers,humanhair,andhumannailsareallmadeofwhatprotein?Testyourknowledge.Takethequiz. ThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyRichardPallardy.