Linnet (Linaria cannabina)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
In all plumages: Brown, unstreaked (or faintly streaked) back, grey bill, only faint wing-bars (or none), distinct white base to primaries and streaked throat. Both sexes with pale eye-ring and pale cheek patch. Breeding male distinct with slate grey head, cinnamon back, red chest and red forehead. Females and juveniles easily confused with Twite or Redpoll but note back and face pattern.
Sound:Flight-call a quick and "bouncing" "gig-gig" or "tchett-tchett". Most often disyllabic utterances, while Twite seems to vary more the number of syllables. Tone harder and more bouncing. Song a varied, sweet stream of contact calls, mimicry and trills with a staccato feel. Most easily recognized by the frequently interwoven, disyllabic contact calls.
Calls, song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCMale told from Tree Sparrow by grey crown, grey cheeks with no cheek-patch, larger black bib and grey rump. Female rather featureless, and thus not likely to be confused with Tree Sparrow. Confusion with female Scarlet Rosefinch possible, but underparts unstreaked. Profile of House Sparrow differs from Tree Sparrow by larger, less rounded head and less heavy bill.
Sound:Most calls very similar to Tree Sparrow, but lacks said species' distinct high pitched call (chew-itt), and alarm call is less dry and raucous. Song a primitive, monosyllabic, or slightly disyllabic "chilp", hard to distinguish from Tree Sparrow.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC