Species:

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

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Length (cm):
17-17
14-15
Wingspan (cm):
24-29
21-25
Weight (gram):
19-27
24-38
Size group:
Warbler-size
Sparrow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Easy to identify when seen in mountainous habitat where Rock Pipit does not occur, but harder when occasionally seen at the coast where both species may be present. Told from Rock Pipit by: Contrasting, double wing-bars, unstreaked belly (and only modestly streaked flanks), brownish rump, broad supercilium, paler underwing and pure white outer tail feathers. Summer plumage with more strongly coloured buff or pinkish underparts and greyer upperparts, but difficult to identify when plumage worn.

Sound:

Similar to Rock Pipit. Song slightly more melodious, often with Tree Pipit like glissandi at end of phrase. Contact call sharper and more drawn.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:Betty van Middelkoop, Licence,Link.

CC-sound:Jarek Matusiak, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Male 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:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Timo S., Licence,Link.

Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Wagtail/pipit-like
Silhouette
Sparrow-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file