House sparrow

When: Year round

Scientific name: Passer domesticus

Gaelic name: gealbhonn

Size: Around 15cm tall, wingspan 23cm

Where: Parks, gardens, hedgerows

One of the most common species seen flitting to and fro between garden bushes, House sparrows bring a welcome vitality to our landscape throughout the year. A very sociable species, flocks can be seen feeding and roosting in urban residential areas, as well as leafy parks and farmland.

House sparrows are considered to be one of the most successful species on the planet, as they are found in most countries around the world. This may be due to their broad range in diet - one BTO survey counted 838 different types of food in the stomachs of one sample of sparrows back in the 1940s! Their main sources of food in this country come from hedgerows, where the birds feast on nuts and berries. However, they have also been known to forage the leftovers of humans, pecking at scraps left on outdoor coffee tables and picnic benches.

The adult male can be identified by the distinctive grey cap and white cheek, with females and juveniles sporting more subtle, brown mottled plumage. You are likely to spot House sparrows in small flocks, chirping away in the bushes all year round. Over the summer, colonies will breed and raise up to three clutches of young over the season, with chicks taking around two weeks to fledge. It's perhaps this prolific breeding that has earned House sparrows a bit of a reputation as promiscuous wee spuggies, however it has been found that their numbers in the UK are in decline, falling by over half in both urban and rural environments. The exact cause of this rapid decline is unclear, although it is thought that changes in farming practises and loss of habitat may be affecting this species' success.

Despite their comforting presence on the gloomiest days of winter, and boundless vigour in the height of summer, House sparrows have been subject to much persecution and ridicule from many different cultures in the past. They were once considered a nuisance in Scotland, and some landowners used to trap or shoot them, using them as food for captive birds of prey. Globally, they have often been considered omens of death and mischief! In many western cultures it was said that if a sparrow flew into the house, the human occupant would meet a grim fate. The ancient Egyptians even used a hieroglyph in the form of the sparrow, symbolising badness and menace.

Perhaps a little noisy, and maybe a bit cheeky when they're trying to peck at your leftovers, House sparrows are still a wonderful addition to our landscape; our parks and gardens would certainly be a lot duller without them! Visit https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob15910.htm to find out more about these cheery chirpers, and how you could help boost their numbers in Scotland!

Image: Ray Kennedy, RSPB Images