Wildlifeof Nepal
Spanish Sparrow
Finches, Sparrows & Buntings
Photo: (c) Vítor Jorge, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Passer hispaniolensis
Basic stats
Habitat
Open habitat
Range
Mediterranean region and south-west and central Asia; western hispaniolensis and eastern transcaspicus subspecies
Clutch size
3–8 eggs per pair
Incubation period
Hatch in 12 days; chicks fledge at about 14 days
Size
15–16cm
Weight
22–36g
The Spanish, or willow, sparrow is a rather large sparrow, 15–16 cm long and 22–36 g, slightly larger and heavier than the house sparrow with a slightly longer, stouter bill. The male is like the house sparrow in plumage but has underparts heavily streaked with black, a chestnut rather than grey crown and white rather than grey cheeks. It is found in the Mediterranean region and south-west and central Asia, in two subspecies with little visible difference between them in worn breeding plumage (Wikipedia, general species account).
Each pair lays three to eight eggs, which hatch in 12 days, and the chicks fledge at about 14 days. Little is known of the species' survival rate, and the maximum recorded age is 11 years. The male's call when displaying at its nest differs somewhat from the house sparrow's, and other calls are almost the same (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Spanish Sparrow live in?
- Open habitat
- Where is the Spanish Sparrow found?
- Mediterranean region and south-west and central Asia; western hispaniolensis and eastern transcaspicus subspecies
- How many eggs does the Spanish Sparrow lay?
- 3–8 eggs per pair
- How long are the eggs of the Spanish Sparrow incubated?
- Hatch in 12 days; chicks fledge at about 14 days
- How big is the Spanish Sparrow?
- 15–16cm
- How much does the Spanish Sparrow weigh?
- 22–36g