house sparrow

American  

noun

1. a small, hardy, buffy-brown and gray bird, Passer domesticus, of Europe, introduced into America, Australia, etc.

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house sparrow British  

noun

1. Also called (US): English sparrow.  a small Eurasian weaverbird, Passer domesticus, now established in North America and Australia. It has a brown streaked plumage with grey underparts

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Etymology

Origin of house sparrow

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

They concluded that in agricultural areas, species of greater conservation concern, like the oak titmouse, would see worse outcomes than species of lower concern, like the house sparrow.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2023

The researchers spotted a house sparrow and pulled binoculars to their eyes.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2023

The situation is so bad for eastern bluebirds that the North American Bluebird Society recommends removing and destroying house sparrow eggs from bluebird boxes and trapping adult house sparrows.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2023

The plant app, similarly, has had some wins—the mysterious green things shooting out of a bed in our front lawn early this spring were daffodils—and Merlin got a robin and house sparrow correct recently.

From Slate • Jul. 9, 2022

A little brown house sparrow swoops out of the rafters and lands on the tiles in front of her.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr