Newsletter / Blog
2012-02-11 What is the longevity of the House Sparrow?
The oldest House
Sparrow - Passer domesticus – was older than 19 years 9 months. It
was found dead in Denmark.
The House Sparrow is a chunky
bird, with a large rounded head, a short tail, and a stout bill. Females are usually
smaller than males. They are mostly different shades of grey and brown. Females
and juveniles are mostly buff and the male marked with bold colours. The male
has a “bib” or throat patch.
They originated
in the Middle East and spread, along with agriculture, to most of Eurasia and
parts of North Africa. Since the
mid-nineteenth century, it has reached most of the world, due chiefly to
deliberate introductions.
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