DISSEMINATION
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DISSEMINATION |
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| Kingdom | Animalia |
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| Phylum | Chordata | |
| Class | Aves | |
| Order | Passeriformes | |
| Family | Ploceidae | |
| Genus | Passer | |
| Species | domesticus | |
| Classification | Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Common name | house sparrow | |
| Size | 15 - 16 centimeters | |
| Wing Span | 25 centimeters | |
| Male weight | 30 grams | |
| Female weight | 30 grams |
| Geographic Range | it is widespread all over the world; it is native to Eurasia and North Africa. |
| Physical Characteristics | grey forehead and grey upper part of the head: the back part of the body is brown with black streaks. The breast and the belly are dark grey. The beak is dark, while paws are light brown. Wings are brown with a white band. The male has white cheeks and a black bib that distinguishes the male from the female. |
| Call | its call can be heard all year round even if less frequently in August and on cold and rainy days. |
| Behaviour | it often lives in populated colonies, it does not migrate in winter, but it moves in flocks inside its region. It is humans' fellow guest and therefore it strictly depends on human presence. Though it is a gregarious bird it defends aggressively the territory around its nest. Males defend the nest from other males and females from other females. |
| Habitat | it prefers habitats near men's houses. |
| Flight | their flight is direct, with continued flapping of wings. |
| Food habits | is omnivorous, it mainly feeds on insects, shoots, seeds, fruit. |
| Nidification | it builds a nest in very different places, usually in hollows located at some height from the ground. The nest is made up of straw, tufts of wool and so on. It sometimes occupies the nests of swallows, after having sent away the birds that previously owned them. The female lays from 3 to 8 eggs that are brooded by both parents for 13-14 days. Initially the young are fed with insects larvae and afterwards with food regurgitated by parents. At the age of 17 days the young can leave the nest. Soon afterwards parents build a new nest and there may be up to 4 clutches a year. |
| Sources | |
| References | Oiseaux.net University of Michigan - Museum of Zoology |
| Web References | http://www.oiseaux.net/ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ |
| Source of the photo | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu |
| Source of the call | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu |
| Source of the video | http://www.hbw.com/ibc/ |
Passer domesticus
