Passer
Encyclopedia
Passer is a genus of Old World
sparrow
s. These sparrows are plump little brown or greyish birds often with black, yellow or white markings. Typically 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, they have short tails and stubby conical beaks. They are gregarious and will form substantial flocks, and some, though not the House Sparrow
, have pleasant songs.
Most of its members are found naturally in open habitats in the warmer climates of Africa
and southern Eurasia
. According to a molecular study published in 2001, the genus originated in Africa
and Cape Sparrow
is the most basal
lineage. Several species have adapted to human habitation, and this has enabled the House Sparrow
in particular, in close association with humans, to extend its Eurasian range well beyond what was probably its original home in the Middle East
. Apart from this natural colonisation, the House Sparrow has been introduced to many parts of the world outside its natural range, including the Americas
, sub-Saharan Africa
, and Australia
. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow has also been artificially introduced on a smaller scale, with populations in Australia
and locally in Missouri
and Illinois
in the United States.
Passer sparrows build an untidy nest, which, depending on species and nest site availability, may be in a bush or tree, a natural hole in a tree, in a building or in thatch, or in the fabric of the nest of species such as the White Stork
. The clutch of up to eight eggs is incubated by both parents typically for 12–14 days, with another 14–24 more days to fledging.
Passer sparrows are primarily ground-feeding seed-eaters, though they also consume small insect
s especially when breeding. A few species, like the House Sparrow and Northern Grey-headed Sparrow scavenge for food around cities, and are almost omnivorous.
, except for the Abd al-Kuri Sparrow
, the split of which from the Socotra Sparrow
was recognised by BirdLife International
in 2010. Besides these living species, some questionable fossils as early as the Early Miocene
are known, and the Middle Pleistocene
fossil species Passer predomesticus
.
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
s. These sparrows are plump little brown or greyish birds often with black, yellow or white markings. Typically 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, they have short tails and stubby conical beaks. They are gregarious and will form substantial flocks, and some, though not the House Sparrow
House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the House Sparrow occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia...
, have pleasant songs.
Most of its members are found naturally in open habitats in the warmer climates of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and southern Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
. According to a molecular study published in 2001, the genus originated in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Cape Sparrow
Cape Sparrow
The Cape Sparrow or Mossie is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. Brightly coloured and distinctive, it is coloured grey, brown, and chestnut, with some black and white markings on the male...
is the most basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
lineage. Several species have adapted to human habitation, and this has enabled the House Sparrow
House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the House Sparrow occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia...
in particular, in close association with humans, to extend its Eurasian range well beyond what was probably its original home in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Apart from this natural colonisation, the House Sparrow has been introduced to many parts of the world outside its natural range, including the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow has also been artificially introduced on a smaller scale, with populations in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and locally in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in the United States.
Passer sparrows build an untidy nest, which, depending on species and nest site availability, may be in a bush or tree, a natural hole in a tree, in a building or in thatch, or in the fabric of the nest of species such as the White Stork
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
. The clutch of up to eight eggs is incubated by both parents typically for 12–14 days, with another 14–24 more days to fledging.
Passer sparrows are primarily ground-feeding seed-eaters, though they also consume small insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s especially when breeding. A few species, like the House Sparrow and Northern Grey-headed Sparrow scavenge for food around cities, and are almost omnivorous.
Species list
These are the species recognised by the Handbook of the Birds of the WorldHandbook of the Birds of the World
The Handbook of the Birds of the World is a multi-volume series produced by the Spanish publishing house Lynx Edicions. It is the first handbook to cover every known living species of bird. The series is edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal and David A Christie.So far, 15...
, except for the Abd al-Kuri Sparrow
Abd al-Kuri Sparrow
The Abd al-Kuri Sparrow is a passerine bird endemic to the small island of Abd al Kuri in the Socotra archiplago of the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa. Though this species was originally described as a distinct species, it is usually considered the same as the Socotra Sparrow...
, the split of which from the Socotra Sparrow
Socotra Sparrow
The Socotra Sparrow is a passerine bird endemic to the islands of Socotra, Samhah, and Darsah in the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa...
was recognised by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
in 2010. Besides these living species, some questionable fossils as early as the Early Miocene
Early Miocene
The Early Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages....
are known, and the Middle Pleistocene
Middle Pleistocene
The Middle Pleistocene, more specifically referred to as the Ionian stage, is a period of geologic time from ca. 781 to 126 thousand years ago....
fossil species Passer predomesticus
Passer predomesticus
Passer predomesticus is a fossil passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. First described in 1962, it is known from two premaxillary bones found in a middle Pleistocene layer of the Oumm-Qatafa cave in Palestine. The premaxillaries resemble those of the House and Spanish Sparrows, but...
.
- Saxaul SparrowSaxaul SparrowThe Saxaul Sparrow is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in parts of Central Asia. At and , it is among the larger sparrows. Both sexes have plumage ranging from dull grey to sandy brown, and pale brown legs. Females have less boldly coloured plumage and bills, lacking the...
, Passer ammodendri - House SparrowHouse SparrowThe House Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the House Sparrow occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia...
, Passer domesticus - Italian SparrowItalian SparrowThe Italian Sparrow is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean region. In appearance, it is intermediate between the House Sparrow, and the Spanish Sparrow, a species of the Mediterranean and Central Asia closely related to the House...
, Passer italiae - Spanish SparrowSpanish SparrowThe Spanish Sparrow or Willow Sparrow is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in the Mediterranean region and southwest and central Asia...
, Passer hispaniolensis - Sind SparrowSind SparrowThe Sind Sparrow , also known as the Sind Jungle Sparrow, Jungle Sparrow, or Rufous-backed Sparrow, is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae...
, Passer pyrrhonotus - Somali SparrowSomali SparrowThe Somali Sparrow is a sparrow found in northern Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya....
, Passer castanopterus - Russet Sparrow or Cinnamon Sparrow, Passer rutilans
- Plain-backed Sparrow or Pegu Sparrow, Passer flaveolus
- Dead Sea SparrowDead Sea SparrowThe Dead Sea Sparrow , as its name suggests, is a breeding bird around the River Jordan, Dead Sea, and into Iraq, Iran and western Afghanistan. Breeding recorded in Cyprus but is probably extinct there now...
, Passer moabiticus - Iago SparrowIago SparrowThe Iago Sparrow , is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is also known as the Cape Verde Sparrow and the Rufous-backed Sparrow. It is endemic to the Cape Verde Islands, in the eastern Atlantic Ocean....
or Cape Verde Sparrow, Passer iagoensis - Great Sparrow, Passer motitensis
- Kenya Sparrow, Passer rufocinctus
- Kordofan SparrowKordofan SparrowThe Kordofan Sparrow, also known as the Kordofan Rufous Sparrow, is a sparrow found only in northwestern Sudan and eastern Chad. It is frequently considered a subspecies of the Kenya Sparrow, which in turn is considered a subspecies of the Great Sparrow....
, Passer cordofanicus - Shelley's SparrowShelley's SparrowShelley's Sparrow , also known as Shelley's Rufous Sparrow or the White Nile Rufous Sparrow, is a sparrow found in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya. It is frequently considered a subspecies of the Kenya Sparrow, which in turn is considered a subspecies of the Great Sparrow.- External links...
, Passer shelleyi - Socotra SparrowSocotra SparrowThe Socotra Sparrow is a passerine bird endemic to the islands of Socotra, Samhah, and Darsah in the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa...
, Passer insularis - Abd al-Kuri SparrowAbd al-Kuri SparrowThe Abd al-Kuri Sparrow is a passerine bird endemic to the small island of Abd al Kuri in the Socotra archiplago of the Indian Ocean, off the Horn of Africa. Though this species was originally described as a distinct species, it is usually considered the same as the Socotra Sparrow...
, Passer hemileucus - Cape SparrowCape SparrowThe Cape Sparrow or Mossie is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. Brightly coloured and distinctive, it is coloured grey, brown, and chestnut, with some black and white markings on the male...
or Mossie, Passer melanurus - Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Passer griseus
- Swainson's SparrowSwainson's SparrowSwainson's Sparrow is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs in the highlands of Ethiopia and Somalia, and in some of Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Kenya. It is often considered a race of Grey-headed Sparrow, but it tends to be darker, especially on the head and...
, Passer swainsonii - Parrot-billed SparrowParrot-billed SparrowThe Parrot-billed Sparrow is found in the arid lowlands of east central Africa. At and , it is largest of the sparrows of the family Passeridae. It is often considered a subspecies of the Grey-headed Sparrow.-External links:*...
, Passer gongonensis - Swahili Sparrow, Passer suahelicus
- Southern Grey-headed SparrowSouthern Grey-headed SparrowThe Southern Grey-headed Sparrow is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the Grey-headed Sparrow. It is found in savanna and woodland in Angola and Zambia down to South Africa....
, Passer diffusus - Desert SparrowDesert SparrowThe Desert Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in desert and sandy areas of northern and central Africa, with a distinct subspecies in areas of Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan sometimes called the Asian Desert Sparrow or Zarudny's Sparrow .The Desert Sparrow is not...
, Passer simplex - Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
- Sudan Golden SparrowSudan Golden SparrowThe Sudan Golden Sparrow is a small bird in the sparrow family, found to the south of the Sahara Desert in Africa. It is a popular cage bird, and in aviculture it is known as the Golden Song Sparrow...
, Passer luteus - Arabian Golden SparrowArabian Golden SparrowThe Arabian Golden Sparrow is a sparrow found in south west Arabia and also the coast of Somalia and Djibouti where it occurs in thorn savanna and scrub habitats. It is sometimes considered as a subspecies of the Sudan Golden Sparrow .- External links :*...
, Passer euchlorus - Chestnut SparrowChestnut SparrowThe Chestnut Sparrow is a species of passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae. It is the smallest member of the sparrow family, at about long. The breeding male has deep chestnut plumage and the female and juvenile are duller in appearance...
, Passer eminibey
External links
- Passeridae on the Internet Bird Collection