Passer domesticus
Towns, barns, and feeders almost everywhere people live. Tiny hopping track.
What does a house sparrow look like?
Chunky brown sparrow. Male has a black bib. Not a native sparrow.
What do house sparrow tracks look like?
A very small hopping print. The flock and the nest hole are the better clues.
- Tiny hopping track
- Male has a gray crown, black bib, and chestnut nape
- Female is plain brown with a pale eyebrow
- Often in a noisy flock
- Whitewash under a nest in a sign or vent
What does house sparrow poop look like?
Small droppings under a nest in a storefront sign, vent, or barn. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Towns, barns, and feeders almost everywhere people live. Typical places: yard. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Song sparrow identification
- House finch identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell a house sparrow from a song sparrow?
A house sparrow male has a black bib and gray crown. A song sparrow has a streaked breast with a central spot.
How to tell a house sparrow from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Song sparrow. A tiny sparrow print. Brown streaked sparrow with a dark spot in the middle of the breast.
- House finch. Too small to separate from other finches. Male is red on the face and chest with a streaked belly.
House sparrow field marks
- Tiny hopping track
- Male has a gray crown, black bib, and chestnut nape
- Female is plain brown with a pale eyebrow
- Often in a noisy flock
Where the sign shows up
Towns, barns, and feeders almost everywhere people live. Typical places: yard. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
A very small hopping print. The flock and the nest hole are the better clues. Small droppings under a nest in a storefront sign, vent, or barn.
Common questions
How do you tell a house sparrow from a song sparrow?
A house sparrow male has a black bib and gray crown. A song sparrow has a streaked breast with a central spot.