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Sparrow Facts

Sparrow Facts
Sparrow is a species of birds that can be easily recognized because it lives very close to humans. This small bird originates from North Africa, but it has been successfully introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Sparrow, unlike many other birds, cannot be found in forests and deserts. It prefers life close to human settlements, including both urban and rural areas. Number of sparrows decreased dramatically in the last couple of years for unknown reason. Three quarters of sparrows disappeared from the London between 1994 and 2000. Due to fast decline in number of sparrows, this bird is listed as threatened (nearly endangered).
Interesting Sparrow Facts:
Sparrow is a very small bird. It can reach 4 to 8 inches in length and 0.8 to 1.4 ounces in weight.
Sparrow has stout body, covered with brown, black and white feathers. Its wings are rounded.
Males and females can be distinguished by the feather coloration: males have reddish backs and black bib, while females have brown backs with stripes.
Sparrows are very social and they live in colonies called flocks.
Sparrows are carnivores (meat-eaters) by nature, but they have changed their eating habits when they learned to live close to people. Sparrows primarily eat moths and other small insects, but they can also eat seed, berries and fruit.
One of the reasons why sparrows adapted to the life in human settlements is constant supply of food. Sparrows easily learned to eat "served food" when people started to build bird feeders.
Sparrows usually fly at the speed of 24 miles per hour. When needed (in the case of danger), they can accelerate to the speed of 31 miles per hour.
Although sparrows do not belong to the group of water birds, they can swim very fast to escape from the predators.
Main predators of sparrows are dogs, cats, foxes and snakes. Young and inexperienced birds are the main target and easy meal for these carnivores.
Sparrows are not territorial animals, but they will aggressively protect their nest from other sparrows.
Sparrows usually build nest under the roofs, under bridges and in tree hollows.
Male is responsible for building of the nest. During construction, male will try to attract female. She can help in further building if she is interested in mating.
Sparrows are allegedly monogamous. Recent genetic analysis showed that only small percent of eggs contains DNA of both parents (in other words: both male and female are prone to infidelity).
Sparrows have several broods each year. Female lays 3 to 5 eggs. Incubation period lasts 12 to 15 days. Both parents take care of the eggs and chicks. Young birds are ready to leave the nest 15 days after birth.
Sparrows can survive between 4 and 5 years in the wild.


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