• the Following Pages Have Some Identification Markers for Each of Sparrows Found in India

• The following pages have some identification markers for each of Sparrows found in India

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Sno. Name Binomial Name

1 Chestnut shouldered Petronia Gymnoris xanthocollis

2 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

3 House Sparrow Passer domesticus

4 Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora

5 Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans

6 Sind Sparrow Passer pyrrhonotus

7 Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis

©www.ogaclicks.com Chestnut shouldered Petronia identification Tips Chestnut shouldered Petronia : Gymnoris xanthocollis: Widespread Resident in India ( Except North East India)

Olive Grey- Brown head & crown

Bill horn-coloured, becoming black in breeding season Upper parts are Olive Grey- Brown White Chin

Pale yellow spot on lower throat

Bill is yellowish-horn, Chestnut patch on Coverts paler at base Pale Brown Breast Two prominent white wingbars

Black edged Grey Primaries

White throat Underparts are white

Legs are Grey / Grey-Brown Lacks Chestnut patch on Coverts Tail slightly notched at tip, dark Male grey with thin paler buffy edges Female Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from male Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Eurasian Tree Sparrow identification Tips Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Passer montanus : Resident of Himalayas, Eastern Ghats & North East India

Rich Reddish-Brown head & crown Black lores White face with prominent black spot on cheeks Bill is black White Collar Short black bib (chin and upper throat) Upper parts are warm Brown heavily streaked with black

Chestnut with whitish tips producing wing-bars on wing coverts

Dingy grayish white with buff-brown wash underparts White edged Black Primaries

Legs are Grey / Grey-Brown

Undertail coverts are white Tail is grey-brown, narrowly edged buffish

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Both Sexes are similar Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com House Sparrow identification Tips House Sparrow : Passer domesticus : Widespread Resident in India Grey crown Black lores Small white post ocular spot Chestnut bordering crown and on nape Bill is black Black line from bill back to eye

Pale Grey ear-coverts; cheek White Chin and throat black, with black bib extending variable distance onto breast Upperparts are Brown with Black streaking Greater coverts dark brown to blackish-brown with Grey-Brown crown broad chestnut edges and narrow buffish tips Lower back to uppertail coverts Brownish-Grey Grey-Brown post Pale Grey underparts ocular line Lesser and median upperwing- coverts chestnut, medians broadly tipped white Lacks Chestnut on coverts White edged Black Primaries Unmarked Legs are Grey / throat and Grey-Brown breast

Male

Tail is dark brown to blackish-brown, feathers with narrow buffish edges

Female Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from male Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Java Sparrow identification Tips Java Sparrow: Lonchura oryzivora: Introduced in India ( Probably now extirpated / found in captivity) Iris reddish chestnut. Orbital skin pink Black head & crown

White face with prominent black spot on cheeks Bulbous bill deep rose with whitish at tip and along cutting edges White Cheek & ear Covert

Black Chin

Bluish Grey Throat Upper parts are Slate Grey Bluish Grey Breast

Slate Grey wings

Pinkish mauve belly & underparts

Legs are Pink

Tail is Black

Undertail coverts are white

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Both Sexes are similar Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Russet Sparrow identification Tips Russet Sparrow : Passer rutilans: Resident of Himalayas & North East India Cinnamon-Brown (Russet) head & crown Black lores

Black eye stripe Bill is black ( Horn color in Non-Breeding) Off White ear-coverts Black streaks on mantle Chin and throat black Yellowish bill with dark tip

Sandy Brown crown Upperparts are Russet Coverts are black with White tips

Creamy supercilium Off White underparts

Lower back to uppertail coverts Russet Sandy Brown upperparts White edged Black Primaries White throat and breast

Legs are pale brown to pinkish- brown Tail is dull Brownish or Grey-Brown, Male feathers with narrow pale edges and tips Female Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from male Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Sind Sparrow identification Tips Sind Sparrow : Passer pyrrhonotus: Resident of North West India Grey Crown to Hindneck Black lores Broad chestnut band behind eye curving around rear of ear-coverts

Bill is black ( Horn color in Non-Breeding) Dirty Grey ear-coverts and cheek Rich Brown mantle , streaked black Chin and throat black Bill is brownish, yellower base Scapulars chestnut with black centers Dull Brown crown Coverts blackish with broad brownish edges and narrow buff tip Creamy supercilium Pale Grey underparts

Reddish-brown rump Dull Brown upperparts Primaries black, edged buffish to sandy Grey throat and breast

Legs are yellowish- brown

Tail is Greyish-Brown, feathers Male finely edged buffish Female Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from male Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Spanish Sparrow identification Tips Spanish Sparrow : Passer hispaniolensis: Winter Visitor to North India Deep Chestnut head, crown to Hindneck Black lores White post ocular spot

Bill is black ( Horn color in Non-Breeding) White ear-coverts and cheek Mantle streaked black and buffish-brown

Bill is brownish, yellower base Chin, throat & breast are black Median Covert tipped white Dull Brown crown Great coverts with black centers and Creamy supercilium narrow whitish tips

Dull Brown White upperparts Back to uppertail-coverts greyish-brown underparts

Grey throat Primaries black, edged buffish to sandy and breast Heavy bold Black streaks down side to lower flanks

Underparts paler, Legs are ale pale pinkish with necklace of dark or fleshy-brown streaks that are continued down Male flanks Tail is dark Brown, edged paler

Female Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from male Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com House Vs Sind Vs Spanish Sparrow - Male

House Sparrow Spanish Sparrow Grey Head & Crown Chestnut Head & Crown White post ocular spot White post ocular spot

Black Bib from chin to full breast

Black streaks on sides

Sind Sparrow

Black Bib from chin to upper breast

Grey Head & Crown No White post ocular spot

Black Bib from chin to throat only