True Sparrows: Family Passeridae

True Sparrows are a family of birds who are native to Europe, Africa and Asia (the Old World). Though they are native to the Old World, you have probably seen members of this family sneaking chips or bread crumbs from your outdoor patios in most large cities. Several species were brought to the Americas by settlers, and have since become widespread moochers. In their native lands, they are typically found in open-air habitats, like savannas, grasslands and semi-arid deserts, which explains why they like our North American cities so much!

What's in a Name?

The order Passeriformes gets its name from this family, more specifically the species Passer domesticus. They are generally small birds with a short powerful beak, strong feet and a highly developed syrinx. They are drab birds, normally brown to gray in color and are granivorous, eating seeds and nuts, occasionally splurging on a bug. Many species in this family live and roost in large flocks and because humans have turned much of their native land into agricultural areas, these birds have been known to devastate some crops.

Taxonomy and Evolution

This family used to contain a sub-family which contained the Waxbills and Estrilid Finches (Estrildidae), but in 2008, the Estrildidae were recognized as a separate family. Another group of birds, also known collectively known as Sparrows (American Sparrows and Buntings), look and act very similarly, but are in fact two separate evolutionary lineages. True Sparrows are native to and have evolutionary roots in Eurasia. American Sparrows and Buntings most likely descended from a group of birds that evolved in South America.
Genus Passer (True Sparrows)
Genus Petronia (Petronias)
Genus Carpospiza (Pale Rockfinch)
Genus Montifringilla (Snowfinches)