House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Other Pics: Female House Sparrow

Other Names

    Moineau domestique   Haussperling   Gorrión Común   Gråsparv   Huismus   Passera europea

World: Widespread across the world in every continent except Antarctica; often originally introduced by man.

Kenya: Found mainly in coastal towns but spreading inland in south-eastern and southern Kenya, as far North as Nairobi.

Introduced to Kenya early in the 20th century and now fairly common in some parts (Nairobi rubbish dumps!) usually near human habitation. It can be seen in more pleasant surroundings in Tsavo National Park; we've seen it on bird tables at Kilaguni Lodge in the last couple of years. The male, shown above is fairly distinctive with the black bib and white cheeks. The female resembles the female Somali Sparrow but has no yellow underneath.