House Sparrow

Afrikaans name: Huismossie

Photo © Steven Herbert

Passer domesticus

Here we have, apparently, the most widely distributed wild bird in the world. It started out in Europe and Asia and now you can find it in North and South America, Africa and Australasia.

Males are slightly bigger than females but they are easy to distinguish with their different plumage. The male sports black and rufous patches while the female is a drab brown. They weigh around 27 grams.

Like its name suggests the House Sparrow is normally found in association with man, but it does occupy natural habitats in some places.

The primary food of the House Sparrow is seeds. It is a regular visitor, or resident, in gardens and will eat food from bird feeders.

They pair for life normally and nest in holes in buildings, banks or anywhere they can find a suitable spot. They lay up to 5 eggs which are whitish with blotches.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Above - A male House Sparrow with nesting material

Below - A female House Sparrow (presumably the mate of the male shown above)

Photo © Steven Herbert

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	784	Passer domesticus domesticus
2nd	784	Passer domesticus
3rd	784	Passer domesticus
4th	784	Passer domesticus
5th	801	Passer domesticus
6th	801	Passer domesticus
7th	900	Passer domesticus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	784	English Sparrow
2nd	784	House Sparrow
3rd	784	House Sparrow
4th	784	House Sparrow
5th	801	House Sparrow
6th	801	House Sparrow
7th	900	House Sparrow

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	784	Engelse-mossie
2nd	784	Engelse Mossie
3rd	784	Huis Mossie
4th	784	Huis Mossie
5th	801	Huismossie
6th	801	Huismossie
7th	900	Huismossie

References and further reading

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 94

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 69

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 63

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 62

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 192

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 69

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Published: 1987 - Page: 64

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 103

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 333

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 414

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 380

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 709

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 710

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 546

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 556

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 110

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 338

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 421

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 404

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 404

LBJs - Author: Newman, Johnson, Solomon, Masterson - Published: 1998 - Page: 128

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 24

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 300

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 42

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 94

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 132

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 24

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 204

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 77

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 70

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 251

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 114

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 208

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 108

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 212

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 267

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 295

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds