House sparrow (Passer domesticus)

The House Sparrow is a small bird with a thick bill and short legs. The male has a black throat and white cheeks and wingbars, and a reddish back and black bib. The female is brown with an eyestripe. They are 14-16 cm long with a wingspan of 19-25 cm. Adult weight is 26-32g.

They eat seeds, and scraps such as peoples' wasted food.

House sparrows are noisy and gregarious birds, feeding and breeding near to humans. They are disappearing from city centres and the wider countryside, and they are struggling to survive in Britain. They can be seen all year round but recent declines in numbers have put the sparrow on the Red List.

House sparrows can rear up to three broods in a season, laying eggs late in August or even at Christmas. They nest in ivy or creepers, thatched roofs, in sea cliffs, and under the eaves of houses, often using an old house martin's or sand martin's nest. Sometimes a heron's or rook's nest is used.

The average lifespan of the house sparrow is 3 years but they can live up to 12 years.