Bird Guide

Italian Sparrow vs Russet Sparrow

Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae)

Italian Sparrow

Passer italiae

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The Italian sparrow is a small chunky bird, with grey and brown plumage. The sexes differ in their plumage pattern, and slightly in length. The male has a head patterned like that of the Spanish sparrow, with a chestnut crown, nape and sides of head, and white cheeks. The male's upperparts are bright chestnut, and its underparts are pale grey, lacking the black streaking of the Spanish sparrow. The male has a black patch on its throat and chest, known as a bib or badge. This patch, like much of the male's plumage is dull in fresh non-breeding plumage and is brightened by wear and preening.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Italian Sparrow
Recorded by Carlo Fracasso · Call, song · Toro, Provincia di Campobasso, Molise, Italy · CC0
Photo: StarStats · CC BY 4.0
Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus)

Russet Sparrow

Passer cinnamomeus

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The russet sparrow is a small chunky bird, with plumage warm rufous in overall colour. It is a medium-sized sparrow at 14 to 15 cm (5.5–5.9 in) and 18 to 22.5 grams (0.63–0.79 oz). It has a thick bill suited to eating seeds, which is black on the breeding male, horn-coloured on the non-breeding male, and yellowish with a dark tip on the female. Wingspans for males range between 6.8 to 8.2 cm (2.7–3.2 in) and those for females from 6.7 to 7.7 cm (2.6–3.0 in). Tail, bill, and tarsus lengths are 4.3 to 5.1 cm (1.7–2.0 in), 1.1 to 1.3 cm (0.43–0.51 in), and 1.6 to 1.8 cm (0.63–0. Voice: The russet sparrow's vocalisations are described by most sources as "the sweetest and most musical" of any sparrow. Its basic call is a cheep or chilp, similar to that of other sparrows. This call is monosyllabic, unlike the house sparrow's chirrup call, and is softer than that of the other sparrows. This call is given as a flight call, or by displaying males.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Jagdish Singh Negi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jagdish Singh Negi · cc-by

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Italian Sparrow and Russet Sparrow.