House Sparrow Passer domesticus
The male House Sparrow has well-defined markings, including black eye liner and a "bib".
The Northern European variety has grey on top of his head.
The female House Sparrow, like many female songbirds, is much plainer.
She has a pale creamy-brown stripe leading back from her eye.
They are vocal birds constantly chattering to each other.
This is a Sparrow crossed with a sheep.
The male's beak turns to black and the chin/bib become blacker in breeding plumage.
Above: female House Sparrows.
House Sparrows are native and resident throughout Europe, much of North Africa and much of Asia.
They have been introduced to the Americas and parts of the southern hemisphere.
The interesting thing about these sparrows is that they live in central Madrid but are northern House Sparrows (with grey crowns)
not Spanish Sparrows (see below).
She also lives in Madrid but is not a Spanish Sparrow.
He lives in London; beak and bib are non-breeding season.
Another Cockney Sparrow, this time breeding male
Juvenile with telltale yellow mouth where beak begins
Father feeding the chick
Father and fledgling chick
House Sparrows are gregarious birds which have adapted to live close to humans.
Links
Turkestan subspecies(Bright white cheek, more bib)
Spanish/Willow Sparrow(Brown top of head, white eyebrow)
Italian Sparrow(As Spanish but less streaky)
Tree Sparrow(Brown head, black cheek patch)
Hedge "Sparrow"/Dunnock(Brown/grey patterned top of head)
Sparrows in major cities
Sudan Golden Sparrow
Rock Sparrow/Petronia