''Passer'' is a genus of

sparrow Sparrow may refer to: Birds * Old World sparrows, family Passeridae * New World sparrows, family Passerellidae * two species in the Passerine family Estrildidae: ** Java sparrow ** Timor sparrow * Hedge sparrow, also known as the dunnock or hedg ...

s, also known as the true sparrows. The genus contains 28 species and includes the

house sparrow The house sparrow (''Passer domesticus'') is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of and a mass of . Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, a ...

and the Eurasian tree sparrow, two of the most common birds in the world. They are small birds with thick bills for eating seeds, and are mostly coloured grey or brown. Native to the

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...

, some species have been introduced throughout the world.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Passer'' was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760. The type species was subsequently designated as the

(''Passer domesticus''). The name ''Passer'' is the Latin word for "sparrow." Passer montanus Baikonur 001

Species

The genus contains 28 species: Besides these living species, there are questionable fossils from as long ago as the Early Miocene, and ''

Passer predomesticus ''Passer predomesticus'' is a fossil passerine bird in the Old World sparrow, sparrow family Passeridae. First described in 1962, it is known from two premaxillary (upper jaw) bones found in a Middle Pleistocene layer of the Oumm-Qatafa cave in P ...

'', from the Middle Pleistocene.

Description

These sparrows are plump little brown or greyish birds, often with black, yellow or white markings. Typically long, they range in size from the

chestnut sparrow The chestnut sparrow (''Passer eminibey'') 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 ...

(''Passer eminibey''), at and , to the parrot-billed sparrow (''Passer gongonensis''), at and . They have strong, stubby conical beaks with decurved culmens and blunter tips. All species have calls similar to the house sparrow's ''chirrup'' or ''tschilp'' call, and some, though not the house sparrow, have elaborate songs.

Distribution

Most of its members are found naturally in open habitats in the warmer climates of Africa and southern Eurasia. Evolutionary studies suggest the genus originated in Africa. Several species have adapted to human habitation, and this has enabled the

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 The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

, and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The Eurasian tree sparrow has also been artificially introduced on a smaller scale, with populations in

and locally in Missouri and Illinois in the United States.

Behaviour

''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 insects especially when breeding. A few species, like the

and

northern grey-headed sparrow The northern grey-headed sparrow (''Passer griseus''), also known as the grey-headed sparrow, is a species of bird in the sparrow family Passeridae, which is resident in much of tropical Africa. It occurs in a wide range of open habitats, includ ...

scavenge for food around cities, and are almost omnivorous. Most ''Passer'' species are gregarious and will form substantial flocks.

References

;Works cited * * *

External links

Passeridae
on the Internet Bird Collection * {{Authority control Passeridae Bird genera