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A photo of a Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), male
Spanish Sparrow, Male

Spanish Sparrow

Passer hispaniolensis

The Spanish sparrow or willow sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is found in the Mediterranean region and south-west and central Asia. It is very similar to the closely related house sparrow, and the two species show their close relation in a "biological mix-up" of hybridisation in the Mediterranean region, which complicates the taxonomy of this species. The Spanish sparrow is a rather large sparrow, at 15–16 cm in length. It is slightly larger and heavier than house sparrows, and also has a slightly longer and stouter bill. The male is similar to the house sparrow in plumage, but differs in that its underparts are heavily streaked with black, has a chestnut rather than grey crown, and has white rather than grey cheeks. The female is effectively inseparable from the house sparrow in its basic plumage, which is grey-brown overall but more boldly marked. The female has light streaking on its sides, a pale cream supercilium, and broad cream streaks on its back.
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Spanish Sparrows on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦩
Marc G
Wednesday 20 Sep 2023 - 7:17am
Greece
A map showing the sighting location
🦩
Marc G
Tuesday 19 Sep 2023 - 6:42am
Greece
A map showing the sighting location
🌵
Josh Dawson
Monday 18 Sep 2023 - 11:04am
Portugal
A map showing the sighting location
🐧
Andy Lamin
Wednesday 13 Sep 2023 - 9:13am
Malta
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