House Sparrow

The House Sparrow is a familiar bird to most people but one whose numbers have declined rapidly in recent years. The male has a chestnut brown back with black streaks, the underparts, rump and crown are grey while the nape and cheeks are a dull white. There is a black eye stripe and bib. There is also a light wing bar and the bill is yellow-brown in winter, black in summer. The legs are a pale brown. Females are paler, lack the grey crown, dull white cheeks, black bib and eye stripe and chestnut brown nape. They have a straw coloured stripe behind the eye.