House Sparrow

• Despite its name, it is genetically closer to the African weavers than to other songbirds.
• It is closely tied to human settlement across almost the whole world.
• It is in steep decline in several European cities.
• conservaciónIt has declined markedly in many European cities over recent decades, for reasons still being studied.

Skeleton type

Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)

Habitat & environment

Towns, farmland and countryside across almost the whole world, closely tied to human settlement

Birth weight

2.02 grams at hatching

Size at birth

Blind and reddish-skinned on hatching

Sexual maturity

6-9 months

Gestation / incubation

10-14 days

Litter / clutch size

1 to 8 eggs per clutch (3-6 most often), up to 4 broods a year

Lifespan in captivity

Documented record of up to 13.4 years

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); A-Z Animals; Sialis.org; Natural History Museum; Animal Diversity Web; Invasive Species Centre; Wikipedia (House sparrow)

Best time: All year round; it is tied to towns and farmland almost everywhere in the world.