A small bird of towns and farms. Males and females differ in facial and chest markings; males have a black throat bib.
Males have white cheeks and a black throat bib, which females lack. The back has dark streaks.
House sparrows may follow flock-mates to food, while some individuals more often approach on their own. Differences in these social connections can influence foraging.
In Vienna in 2013–2014, researchers tested ten flocks of ten birds with food hidden beneath two boxes. They first measured who followed whom, then gave two birds experience feeding beneath marked boxes in tutor flocks. Nine experimental flocks ultimately fed from both patches.
The spread of feeding at the first-used patch followed the birds’ previously measured social connections. More birds used that patch and ate more food there. First feeders also tended to follow others less often. Independent approaches and following thus contributed differently to finding food within the flock.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
A 2019 study at 11 suburban London sites analysed samples collected in 2006–2009 and examined malaria-parasite intensity and estimated apparent overwinter survival from ring-resighting records. Heavier infections were associated with lower survival; sites with stronger infections in juveniles also showed greater declines in breeding abundance. Monitoring infection intensity and bird health alongside population trends can help understand local declines.