Passeridae - Old World Sparrows, Snow Finches

Birds in this family are found in open habitats like woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural areas and are frequently found in urban and suburban areas. They are small birds, between 5-7 inches in length. They have short, thick bills; short, pointed wings; short legs; and stocky bodies. Most species are brown or gray in color with black or white markings. Males are usually larger than females and more brightly colored.

The birds in this family usually feed in flocks and eat insects, seeds, fruits, and berries. American sparrows and Old World sparrows are not closely related. American sparrows are members of the Emberizidae family.

Passeridae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Introduced Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH (birds) Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus		Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus

Other Species Around the World
Rufous-tailed Weaver - Histurgops ruficaudus   Black-winged Snowfinch - Montifringilla adamsi Plain-backed Snowfinch - Montifringilla blanfordi Small Snowfinch - Montifringilla davidiana White-winged Snowfinch - Montifringilla nivalis Rufous-necked Snowfinch - Montifringilla ruficollis White-rumped Snowfinch - Montifringilla taczanowskii Afghan Snowfinch - Montifringilla theresae Saxaul Sparrow - Passer ammodendri Somali Sparrow - Passer castanopterus Kordofan Sparrow - Passer cordofanicus Southern Gray-headed Sparrow - Passer diffusus House Sparrow - Passer domesticus Chestnut Sparrow - Passer eminibey Arabian Golden Sparrow - Passer euchlorus Plain-backed Sparrow - Passer flaveolus Parrot-billed Sparrow - Passer gongonensis Northern gray-headed Sparrow - Passer griseus Abd al Kuri Sparrow - Passer hemileucus Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis Iago Sparrow - Passer iagoensis Socotra Sparrow - Passer insularis Sudan Golden Sparrow - Passer luteus Cape Sparrow - Passer melanurus Dead Sea Sparrow - Passer moabiticus		Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus Southern Rufous Sparrow - Passer motitensis Sind Sparrow - Passer pyrrhonotus Kenya Rufous Sparrow - Passer rufocinctus Russet Sparrow - Passer rutilans Shelley's Sparrow - Passer shelleyi Desert Sparrow - Passer simplex Swahili Sparrow - Passer suahelicus Swainson's Sparrow - Passer swainsonii Pale Rock Sparrow - Petronia brachydactyla Bush Petronia - Petronia dentata Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia Yellow-spotted Petronia - Petronia pyrgita Yellow-throated Petronia - Petronia superciliaris Chestnut-shouldered Petronia - Petronia xanthocollis Sociable Weaver - Philetairus socius Donaldson-smith's Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser donaldsoni White-browed Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser mahali Chestnut-backed Sparrow-weaver -Plocepasser rufoscapulatus Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser superciliosus Gray-headed Social-weaver - Pseudonigrita arnaudi Black-capped Social-weaver - Pseudonigrita cabanisi Speckle-fronted Weaver - Sporopipes frontalis Scaly Weaver - Sporopipes squamifrons

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Black-capped Social-weaver - Pseudonigrita cabanisi
The black-capped social-weaver is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Black-winged Snowfinch - Montifringilla adamsi
The black-winged snowfinch is found in China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Cape Sparrow - Passer melanurus
The Cape sparrow is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-weaver -Plocepasser rufoscapulatus
The chestnut-backed sparrow-weaver is found in Angola, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser superciliosus
The chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Chestnut-shouldered Petronia - Petronia xanthocollis
The chestnut-shouldered petronia is found in Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Chestnut Sparrow - Passer eminibey
The chestnut sparrow is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia
The rock sparrow is found in northern Africa, southern Europe and central Asia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Dead Sea Sparrow - Passer moabiticus
The Dead Sea sparrow is found in Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Desert Sparrow - Passer simplex
The desert sparrow is found in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Donaldson-smith's Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser donaldsoni
Donaldson-smith's sparrow-weaver is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
The Eurasian tree sparrow is native to Eurasia and Southeast Asia.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
The Eurasian tree sparrow was released into the St. Louis, Missouri, area in 1870. Unlike the house sparrow, it has not spread far and remains in that area in the United States.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Gray-headed Social-weaver - Pseudonigrita arnaudi
The gray-headed Social-weaver is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
The house sparrow is native to Eurasia and North Africa, but it has been introduced around the world.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
The house sparrow was introduced into Brooklyn, New York, in 1851
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
The house sparrow eats seeds and insects
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Iago Sparrow - Passer iagoensis
The Iago sparrow is found in Cape Verde.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Iago Sparrow - Passer iagoensis
The Iago sparrow is also known as the Cape Verde sparrow.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Northern Gray-headed Sparrow - Passer griseus
The northern gray-headed sparrow is also known as the common gray-headed sparrow. It is found in central and southern Africa.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Pale Rock Sparrow - Petronia brachydactyla
The pale rock sparrow is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Parrot-billed Sparrow - Passer gongonensis
The parrot-billed sparrow is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Plain-backed Sparrow - Passer flaveolus
The plain-backed sparrow is also known as the Pegu sparrow. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Rufous-tailed Weaver - Histurgops ruficaudus  
The rufous-tailed weaver is found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Russet Sparrow - Passer rutilans
The russet sparrow is found in Bhutan, China, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Saxaul Sparrow - Passer ammodendri
The Saxaul sparrow is found in China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Scaly Weaver - Sporopipes squamifrons
The scaly weaver is also known as the scaly-feathered finch. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sind Sparrow - Passer pyrrhonotus
The Sind sparrow is found in India and Pakistan.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sociable Weaver - Philetairus socius
The sociable weaver is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Somali Sparrow - Passer castanopterus
The Somali sparrow is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Southern Gray-headed Sparrow - Passer diffusus
The southern gray-headed sparrow is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Southern Rufous Sparrow - Passer motitensis
The southern rufous sparrow is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis
The Spanish sparrow is found in the Mediterranean region and in central and southwest Asia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis
The Spanish sparrow looks a lot like the house sparrow.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Speckle-fronted Weaver - Sporopipes frontalis
The speckle-fronted weaver is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Sudan Golden Sparrow - Passer luteus
The Sudan golden sparrow is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Swahili Sparrow - Passer suahelicus
The Swahili sparrow is found in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Swainson's Sparrow - Passer swainsonii
Swainson's sparrow is found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

White-browed Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser mahali
The white-browed sparrow-weaver is found in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

White-winged Snowfinch - Montifringilla nivalis
The white-winged snowfinch is found from southern Europe through central Asia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No