Spanish Sparrow

The Spanish sparrow, or willow sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis), is a robust member of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is slightly larger than its cousin, the house sparrow, measuring 15–16 cm in length and weighing between 22–36 grams. The male is distinguished by its heavily streaked black underparts, chestnut crown, and white cheeks, contrasting with the house sparrow's grey tones. Females are more challenging to differentiate from house sparrows, but they exhibit bolder markings, light streaking on the sides, a pale cream supercilium, and broad cream streaks on their backs.

Identification Tips

Males can be identified by their black streaks on the underparts, chestnut crown, and white cheeks. Females are similar to house sparrows but have a more pronounced cream supercilium and cream streaks on their backs. The eastern subspecies, P. h. transcaspicus, is paler with less chestnut, especially noticeable in fresh winter plumage.

Habitat

The Spanish sparrow thrives in farmland and open woodland, often preferring moister habitats compared to the house sparrow. In the absence of house sparrows, it may inhabit urban areas, as seen in the Canary Islands and some Mediterranean islands.

Distribution

This species has a complex distribution across the Mediterranean, Macaronesia, and southwest to central Asia. It has expanded its range significantly in recent centuries, now found from the Danube Valley to central Iran and as far north as Scotland and Norway as a vagrant.

Behaviour

The Spanish sparrow is a sociable bird, often seen in flocks. It exhibits nomadic tendencies or regular migrations during winter. The species is known for its large, dense breeding colonies.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a strident, disyllabic chirp, louder and higher-pitched than that of the house sparrow, transcribed as "chweeng-chweeng" or "cheela-cheeli." Other calls include a soft "quer quer quer" at the nest and a "chur-chur-it" as a threat, similar to the house sparrow's vocalizations.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in large colonies, with nests placed in trees, bushes, or under larger birds' nests. Clutches typically contain 3–8 eggs, hatching in about 12 days, with fledging occurring around 14 days later. Males are more involved in nest construction than females.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of seeds from grains and grasses, supplemented with leaves, fruits, and insects, particularly during the breeding season. Nestlings are fed predominantly insects in their early days, gradually transitioning to grains.

Conservation Status

The Spanish sparrow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated global population of 17 to 74 million individuals. While there have been regional population declines, the species has also seen increases in other areas and is not considered seriously threatened.