( D) Male house sparrow provisioning nestlings. This topic remains contentious ( Box 1), but these declines have been attributed to a multitude of factors, including infectious disease, pollution, pesticide use, predator dynamics, new building methodologies and more efficient grain harvesting and storage ( Shaw et al., 2008 Summers-Smith, 2003 Singh et al., 2013 Bell et al., 2010 Dadam et al., 2019). Though still widespread, significant declines have been reported in the native range of the species since the 1970s. A reliance on humans is evident from their colonization of Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the early 1800s, as agriculture spread and urbanization increased ( Summers-Smith, 1963). However, they also continue to increase their geographic range by exploiting ongoing and accelerating anthropogenic change ( Ravinet et al., 2018 Saetre et al., 2012). Becoming commensal some 10,000 years ago, house sparrows are now strongly associated with habitats that have been modified by humans. House sparrows are native to parts of Asia, North Africa and most of Europe, (with the exception of Italy which is occupied by the Italian sparrow P. Native distribution and natural range expansions Here, we explore the natural history of house sparrows and the contributions that these birds have made to basic biology and beyond. Their ubiquity and close association with humans have undoubtedly led to their detailed study across biological and even sociological disciplines. It is for this relationship with people that they received their species identifier domesticus, which derives from the Latin domus or 'house', from Carl Linnaeus in 1758 ( Jobling, 2009 Anderson, 2006). Considered anthrodependent, some populations have gone extinct locally without human presence ( Ravinet et al., 2018 Summers-Smith, 1988). House sparrows can be found living and breeding in climactically extreme environments from deserts in southern California to cities above the Arctic circle, where they are found almost exclusively in close proximity to human habitation ( Hanson et al., 2020b). The species is one of the most widely distributed and common birds in the world, represented by 12 different subspecies ( Summers-Smith, 2009). It takes about 10 to 12 days for the female House Sparrow to incubate its eggs.House sparrows are small, sexually dimorphic birds in the family Passeridae. Even the size and shape of House Sparrow eggs can vary quite a lot. The eggs can be dusty, speckled with black, brown, or ash-gray with a bluish or creamy white background. Female House Sparrows normally lay about 5 to 6 eggs at a time. When it comes to their eggs, House Sparrows are quite as varied as their nesting locations. There are other cases wherein House Sparrows even build new nests on top of existing ones, with live baby birds in them! The house martin is especially vulnerable to this sort of attack. They have been observed to evict other birds from their nests just so they can use it. This behavior has been particularly marked in the North American House Sparrows. In fact, they are known to be a bit more aggressive regarding this matter. House Sparrows, similar to other bird species, also have no qualms about using other birds’ nests. These nests are usually shaped like a dome and are made of twigs and other plant material. House Sparrow nests that are found in trees and shrubs are normally better constructed. These nests are abundantly lined with feathers. They are usually made of straw and other debris, even rubbish. House Sparrow nests that are found in areas which are highly populated by humans tend to be less organized. The appearance of a House Sparrow nest depends on its location. Of course, trees are a common nesting site as well. In less human populated areas, you can expect to see House Sparrow nests on cliffs, banks, as well as bushes. In the city and other urban areas, you just may see nests of House Sparrows under the eaves, in cracks and holes in the walls, in ivy plants and other creepers on house and building walls, and most any other crevice. As they love to reside in areas where humans have made their mark, you can expect to see nests in the most surprising places. The nesting site of House Sparrows can be quite varied. One reason for this adaptability is the House Sparrow’s preference – or even the lack of it – when it comes to nesting. They have come a long way from their native habitat and yet they have managed to become the most populous bird in many of their adopted habitats as well. The House Sparrow is one of the most adaptable birds in existence.
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