Bird group

Old World Sparrows

43 species in this group — each with its conservation status, population estimate and a short description.

Abd al Kuri Sparrow
Passer hemileucus
Vulnerable≈ Unknown

The Abd al Kuri Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Abd al Kuri and nearby Socotra islands. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains,…

Afghan Snowfinch
Pyrgilauda theresae
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Afghan Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on seeds,…

Arabian Golden Sparrow
Passer euchlorus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Arabian Golden Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of the Horn of Africa and nearby drylands. It feeds mainly on seeds,…

Black-winged Snowfinch
Montifringilla adamsi
Least Concern≈ 500K–5M

The Black-winged Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on…

Blanford's Snowfinch
Pyrgilauda blanfordi
Least Concern≈ 500K–5M

The Blanford's Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on…

Cape Sparrow
Passer melanurus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Cape Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains. It feeds…

Cape Verde Sparrow
Passer iagoensis
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Cape Verde Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Cape Verde. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains, buds, and insects, often…

Chestnut Sparrow
Passer eminibey
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Chestnut Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country. It feeds…

Cinnamon Ibon
Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Cinnamon Ibon is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains. It…

Dead Sea Sparrow
Passer moabiticus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Dead Sea Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of North African, Arabian, and Middle Eastern deserts and semi-deserts. It feeds…

Desert Sparrow
Passer simplex
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Desert Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of North African, Arabian, and Middle Eastern deserts and semi-deserts. It feeds…

Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus
Least Concern≈ 190M–310M

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. It feeds mainly on seeds,…

Great Rufous Sparrow
Passer motitensis
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Great Rufous Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains.…

House Sparrow
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Least Concern≈ 540M–1.3B

The House Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of native Eurasian and North African range plus broad introduced regions. It feeds…

Italian Sparrow
Passer italiae
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Italian Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains,…

Kenya Rufous Sparrow
Passer rufocinctus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Kenya Rufous Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country. It…

Kordofan Rufous Sparrow
Passer cordofanicus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Kordofan Rufous Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country. It…

Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Passer griseus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Northern Gray-headed Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country.…

Pale Rockfinch
Carpospiza brachydactyla
Least Concern≈ 500K–5M

The Pale Rockfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains,…

Parrot-billed Sparrow
Passer gongonensis
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Parrot-billed Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of the Horn of Africa and nearby drylands. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains,…

Pere David's Snowfinch
Pyrgilauda davidiana
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Pere David's Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of China and adjacent East Asian forests, reeds, and mountains. It feeds…

Plain-backed Sparrow
Passer flaveolus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Plain-backed Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains.…

Rock Sparrow
Petronia petronia
Least Concern≈ 2M–20M

The Rock Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains, buds,…

Rufous-necked Snowfinch
Pyrgilauda ruficollis
Least Concern≈ 2M–20M

The Rufous-necked Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on…

Russet Sparrow
Passer cinnamomeus
Least Concern≈ 2M–20M

The Russet Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains. It…

Sahel Bush Sparrow
Gymnoris dentata
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Sahel Bush Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains. It…

Saxaul Sparrow
Passer ammodendri
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Saxaul Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on seeds,…

Shelley's Rufous Sparrow
Passer shelleyi
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Shelley's Rufous Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of the Horn of Africa and nearby drylands. It feeds mainly on seeds,…

Sind Sparrow
Passer pyrrhonotus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Sind Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains. It feeds…

Socotra Sparrow
Passer insularis
Near Threatened≈ Unknown

The Socotra Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Socotra. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains, buds, and insects, often around…

Somali Sparrow
Passer castanopterus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Somali Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of the Horn of Africa and nearby drylands. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains, buds,…

Southern Gray-headed Sparrow
Passer diffusus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Southern Gray-headed Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country.…

Spanish Sparrow
Passer hispaniolensis
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Spanish Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains,…

Sudan Golden Sparrow
Passer luteus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Sudan Golden Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country. It…

Swahili Sparrow
Passer suahelicus
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Swahili Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country. It feeds…

Swainson's Sparrow
Passer swainsonii
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Swainson's Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of the Horn of Africa and nearby drylands. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains,…

Tibetan Snowfinch
Montifringilla henrici
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Tibetan Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on seeds,…

White-rumped Snowfinch
Onychostruthus taczanowskii
Least Concern≈ 500K–5M

The White-rumped Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on…

White-winged Snowfinch
Montifringilla nivalis
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The White-winged Snowfinch is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Central Asian steppe, deserts, and high mountains. It feeds mainly on…

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow
Gymnoris pyrgita
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of sub-Saharan African forests, savannas, wetlands, and open country.…

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow
Gymnoris superciliaris
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high…

Yellow-throated Sparrow
Gymnoris xanthocollis
Least Concern≈ 500K–5M

The Yellow-throated Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of the Indian subcontinent. It feeds mainly on seeds, grains, buds, and…

Zarudny's Sparrow
Passer zarudnyi
Least Concern≈ Unknown

The Zarudny's Sparrow is an Old World sparrow or snowfinch of Old World towns, farmland, scrub, deserts, grassland, and high mountains. It…