Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melospiza ("song finch") lincolnii (Thomas Lincoln, a friend of Audobon)

Adult Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Melospiza lincolnii gracilis
Weight: 17-19g/kg  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 19-22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A somewhat more timid member of the New World Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrow favour more mountainous and boggy habitats where they are primarily ground feeding. They winter in the Southern US and Mexico. Thomas Lincoln for whom they are named, shot a bird in Nova Scotia, which he presented to his friend James Audobon who named it after him.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Melospiza
SUBSPECIES: M. l. lincolnii, M. l. gracilis, M. l. alticola
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska, Rockies and inland on the West Coast States, Winters on West Coast and Southern Saates 
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Stripe-headed Sparrow (Peucaea ruficauda)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Peucaea ("pine tree") ruficauda ("rufous tailed")

 

Stripe-headed Sparrow (Peucaea ruficauda) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Peucaea ruficauda ruficauda
Weight: 35g  /  Length: 15-18cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large sparrow found in several disjunct ranges on the Pacific Coast from Central Mexico to Tarcoles in Costa Rica. They are unique among New World Sparrows in that they have a co-operative breeding system where up to seven other birds have been recorded as supporting a breeding pair to raise the chicks. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Peucaea
SUBSPECIES: P. r. acuminata, P. r. ruficauda, R. f. lawrencii
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Chingolo Cabecilstado ("Rufous-headed sparrow")
Found in North-West
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pipilo ("to cheep") erythrophthalmus ("having red eyes")

Adult Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) at Necedah, Wisconsin - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus
Weight: 32-53g  /  Length: 17-23cm  /  Wingspan: 20-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Formerly considered conspecific with the Spotted Towhee, the Eastern Towhee is a near-endemic species of the USA, whose range ends at a fairly straight line from the Minnesota-North Dakota Border down to the Southernmost point of Texas. A versatile species that is able to colonise disturbed areas successfully.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Pipilo
SUBSPECIES: P. e. erthyrophalmus, P. e. canaster, P. e. rileyi, P. e. alleni

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in the Eastern half of the Lower 48.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Necedah, Wisconsin

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Spizella ("finch") pusilla ("very small")

Juvenile Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) at Campton Hills, Illinois- August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Spizella arenacea arenacea
Weight: 12.5g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A near endemic species to the USA, with it's range just barely tipping over the borders into Mexico and Canada, the Field Sparrow is an unusually pale sparrow species wit a distinctive pink bill. The population is East of the Rockies right up to the Atlantic Coast, with more northerly populations being migratory.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Spizella
SUBSPECIES: S. p. pusilla, S. p. arenacea

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in the Eastern half of the Lower 48.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Gray Willows Farm, Campton Hills, Illinois

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Zonotrichia ("band hair") albicollis ("white throated")

Adult White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 26g  /  Length: 15-19cm  /  Wingspan: 23cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

When our trip first took us into the boreal forests of Canada it took me a while to locate the source of the odd WEEEP WOOOP WUUUPUUPPUU notes emerging from the forest.  When I eventually did manage to identify the source it proved to be this charming little sparrow. Once I knew what to look for they became the most defining species of these forests for a section of the trip.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Zonotrichia
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds throughout much of the country except the tundra and mountains.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta, British Colombia and Yukon

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Chondestes ("to sing") grammacus ("of the grass")

Adult Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 24-33g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: 28cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A larger new world sparrow species with it's range centred on West and Central USA. Their diet is largely seed based, but it is supplemented with grasshoppers and other insects when available. When looking to attract a mate, male lark sparrows put on a dance on the ground that can last for up to 5 minutes.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Chondestes
SUBSPECIES: C. g. grammacus, C. g. strigatus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Occurs through most of the Lower 48 East of the Great Lakes
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Spizella ("finch") passerina ("sparrow like")

Adult Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) at Buffalo State River Park, Minnesota  - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Spizella passerina passerina
Weight: 11-17g  /  Length: 12-15cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread species of sparrow that is largely a migrant breeding species in most of the US and Canada, they are an adaptable species that can be found in forest, farmland and gardens. In breeding plumage they gain a chestnut coloured cap, but this becomes less distinctive in nonbreeding plumage.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Spizella
SUBSPECIES: S. p. arizonae, S. p. passerina, S. p. atremaeus, S. p. mexicana, S. p. pinetorum

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds throughout much of the country except the tundra.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Occurs throughout almost the entire lower 48, and some patches of Alaska.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Common bird in the lower 48 section of the trip. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Passerculus ("small sparrow") sandwichensis ("of Sandwich, Unalaska")

Adult Savannah Sparrow (subspecies P. s. alaudinus) at Monterey, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus
Weight: 15-29g  /  Length: 11-15cm  /  Wingspan: 18-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small neat sparrow distinguished by it's pale golden supercilium, they are found across the entirity of the Lower 48 and Alaska. Despite the fact they are indeed found in grassland, the name actually doesn't refer to that, but rather to the city of Savannah, Georgia, where this species was first described from to Western Science.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Passerculus
SUBSPECIES: P. s. oblitus, P. s. mediogriseus, P. s. labadorius, P. s. savanna, P. s. princeps, P. s. anthinus, P. s. sandwichensis, P. s. crassus, P. s. brooksi, P. s. alaudinus, P. s. nevadensis, P. s. rufofuscus, P. s. brunnescens, P. s. wetmorei, P. s. beldingi, P. s. anulus, P. s. guttatus, P. s. magdalenae, P. s. sanctorum, P. s. rostratus, P. s. atratus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Breeds in Alaska and Northern States of the Lower 48, Winters in Southern States. Resident in Central and Southern Coastal California
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley and  Monterey

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melospiza ("song finch") melodia ("singing")

Adult male Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) at Hayward, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Unclear
Weight: 11-53g  /  Length: 11-18cm  /  Wingspan: 18-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

When I first heard this species singing, I understood why it is named the Song Sparrow - compared to other seed "finch like" birds it is very melodic and clear. Is is also a species with a huge array of subspecies which seem to adapt readily to different habitats - there are multiple endemic subspecies in California alone!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Melospiza
SUBSPECIES: M. m. melodia, M. m.atlantica, M. m.maxima, M. m.sanaka, M. m.insignis, M. m.kenaiensis, M. m. caurina, M. m.rufina, M. m. morphna, M. m. merrilli, M. m. montana, M. m. cleonensis, M. m.gouldii, M. m.maxillaris, M. m. heermanni, M. m.graminea, M. m. samuelis, M. m. pusillula, M. m. fallax, M. m. rivularis, M. m. goldmani, M. m. mexicana, M. m. villai, M. m. adusta, M. m. zacapu

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found at different times of the year through every state except Hawai'i
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose, Berkeley and Hayward  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Zonotrichia ("band hair") leucophrys ("white eyebrow")

Adult White-crowned Sparrow (subspecies Z. l. nuttalli) at Berkeley, California - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttali
Weight: 25-28g  /  Length: 15-16cm  /  Wingspan: 21-24cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

On visiting the US and getting to grips with the New World sparrows for the first time, the white-crowned was for me the first I got to grips with easily - a stark black and white face with a bright orange-yellow beak made it easy to differentiate from the other species that we were regularly seeing. It's an adaptable species capable of adjusting to habitats ranging from the Arctic Circle to deserts! 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Zonotrichia
SUBSPECIES: Z. l. pugetensis, Z. l. gambelii, Z. l. nuttalli, Z. l. oriantha, Z. l. leucophrys

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska and Northern Rockies, resident on Pacific Coast and areas of Western States, Non-breeding elsewhere 
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  Berkeley 

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Plain-backed Sparrow (Passer flaveolus)

OTHER NAMES: Pegu Sparrow, Olive-backed Sparrow
Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") flaveolus ("golden yellow") 

Adult female Plain-backed Sparrow (Passer flaveolus) near Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 17-23g  /  Length: 14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Plain-backed Sparrow is a species that looks kind of like a House Sparrow that has had all the patterning softed out to create a much more smooth looking bird.  It's a rural bird of open areas with limited trees, or in the case of the few birds where we saw, electricity pylons which they seemed to enjoy using as vantage points.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ចាបស្រុក
A fairly common resident.

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Two seen near outskirts of Siem Reap

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae)

OTHER NAMES: Cisalpine Sparrow
Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") italiae ("Italian")

Adult Male Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) at Catania, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Local Name (Italian): Passera d'Italia ("Italian Sparrow")
Weight: 30g  /  Length: 14-16cm  /  Wingspan: 19-25-cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The Italian Sparrow is a prime example of where taxonomy gets messy and it's only recently any sort of consensus seems to have settled down.  The general opinion now is that it is a species formed of a stable hybrid between House and Spanish sparrows that has become it's own species.  As such they are intermediate between those two species.  To further confuse matters, the birds on Sicily are highly variable, with many looking far more like Spanish Sparrows than the typical mainland birds.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - An abundant resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  Very common throughout.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)

OTHER NAMES: Willow Sparrow

Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") hispaniolensis ("Spanish")

                                       Male Spanish Sparrow (subspecies P. h. hispaniolensis) at Laguna Campillo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Passer hispaniolensis hispaniolensis

Weight: 22-36g  /  Length: 15-16cm  /  Wingspan: 23-26cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Despite the name, this is a species found over a wide range from Iberia to Central Asia and a close relation of the House Sparrow.  However, in comparison to that species, they are considerably less accustomed to human presence, being far more rural to the point of even generally avoiding human buildings.  I saw small numbers in several locations on my second trip to Madrid, but generally they seemed to be associated with the borders of grassland and trees.  The female is basically indistinguishable from that of the House Sparrow, but the very black streaked chest makes the male distinctive.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Subspecies: P. h. hispaniolensis, P. h. transcaspicus 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Gorrión Moruno - ("Moorish Sparrow")

Widespread but local resident in rural habitats, often associating with House Sparrow.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Navaseca (1 male), Monfrague (3 males) and Rivas Vaciamadrid (1 male).  Females may have been present, but are indistinguishable from female House Sparrow in the field.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Petronia (species specific name) petronia (species specific name)

Adult Rock Sparrow (with female House Sparrow) (subspecies P. p. petronia) on Madrid Farmland, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Petronia petronia petronia

Weight: 26-39g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: 16-17cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

A bird with similar proportions to the house sparrow (see the female house sparrow to the right) this species has a more dappled/shabby experience than other species.  It also has a small difficult to see yellow throat patch which I didn't get to see from the angle it was perched in.  The rock sparrow is generally a bird of rocky dry habitat across its range which spreads all along southern Europe and Asia.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Petronia
Subspecies: P. p. petronia, P. p. barbara, P. p. puteicola, P. p. exigua, P. p. kirhizica, P. p.  intermedia, P. p. brevirostris

 - Sighting Locations -
SPAIN - Spanish - Gorrión chillón ("Noisy Sparrow")
Scarce Resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single individual with House Sparrow flock on Farmland near Madrid

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis)

OTHER NAMES: Snowfinch

Latin Etymology: Montifringilla ("mountain finch") icterina ("snowy")

Two White-winged Snowfinch (subspecies M. n. nivalis) in non-breeding plumage in the Dolomites, Italy - July 2004

Featured Subspecies: Montifringilla nivalis nivalis
Weight: 31-57g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

White-winged Snowfinches are a high mountain species who nest upon the barren mountaintops at over 1500m. Despite the name they are actually Sparrows rather than Finches, and spends times in flocks.  Another seed and insect eater, this is another species which has begun to to associate with human habitations like Ski-resorts and other mountaintop places of human habitation.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Montifringilla
Subspecies: M. n. nivalis, M. n. leucura, M. n. alpicola, M. n. gaddi, M. n. tianshanica, M. n. groumgrzimaili, M. n. kwenlunensis

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Fringuello alpino ("Alpine Finch")

A resident of the high mountains.

 - DOLOMITES 2001 TRIP: A small flock on the mountains of the Dolomites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

OTHER NAMES: Tree Sparrow

Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") montanus ("of the mountains")

Adult Eurasian Tree Sparrow (subspecies P. m. saturatus) at Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens, Kyoto, Japan - June 2013

Featured Subspecies: Passer montaus saturatus
Weight: 24g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Tree Sparrow is the rarer cousin of the near omnipresent house sparrow with a patchy distribution and generally quite rare. It is apparently just as widely spread as the house sparrow outside of Britain, but elsewhere it is far more localized in occurrence. I've seen them at Rutland Water and in hedgerows in Geddington. Since I originally photographed this one, interestingly they seem to be increasing their numbers near me.  In East Asia, including Japan and Malaysia, it replaces the house sparrow as the common urban sparrow species, and is found widely in inner city environments.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passidae
Genus: Passer
Subspecies: P. m. montanus, P. m. transcaucasicus, P. m. dilutus, P. m. dybowskii, P. m. kansuensis, P. m. iubilaeus, P. m. obscuratus, P. m. saturatus, P. m. malaccensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An localised resident breeding species (200,000 territories) - subspecies P. m. montanus

 - Seen at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and in some years, Geddington.

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name:  ចាបផ្ទះ ("House Sparrow")

A common urban resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: seen around  Siem Reap,

JAPAN - Japanese - スズメ / Suzume ("Sparrow")

Abundant resident - one of the most common urban birds.

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: Commonly throughout, seen in Kyoto and at Arashiyama. 

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen in Central Tokyo.

ITALY - Italian - Passero Mattugio ("Morning Sparrow")

A widespread resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen on Capo Murro di Porco 

MALAYSIA - Malay - Ciak Rumah ("House Cheep")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A common resident of Kuala Lumpur and Malacca

SINGAPORE - A  common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen in a number of locations throughout. 

SPAIN - Spanish - Gorrión molinero ("Miller Sparrow")

A reasonably common resident,

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen near Laguna Campillo.
       
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .