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

For her, it was the common house sparrow, which she would observe before heading to her job teaching journalism at Loyola University New Orleans when it reopened in January 2006, five months after Katrina.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2024

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 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

Emily Newton, landowner liaison officer at DWT, said the bird, which is the size of a house sparrow and "very secretive and shy", was spotted on the farm a couple of months ago.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 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