Sparrows In The City

The sunny summer day in the city brings out the bounty of fresh air and freedom from kilos of clothing, but most of all it opens the ears and sky for the unforgettable songs of sparrows seemingly everywhere you look. You take a seat and settle in for a slight slumber in the sun, hoping to absorb some of the energy that is spilling over all around you. At least for sure the little birds seem to feel it as they spread their wings and power their lungs all at the same time. As eight or more species nest in or near buildings, and the House Sparrow and Eurasian Tree Sparrow in particular inhabit cities in large numbers, sparrows may be the most familiar of all wild birds. They are primarily seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects. A few species scavenge for food around cities and, like gulls or pigeons, will happily eat virtually anything in small quantities. Sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks. The sparrows are indigenous to Europe, Africa and Asia. In the Americas, Australia, and other parts of the world, settlers imported some species which quickly naturalised, particularly in urban and degraded areas. House Sparrows, for example, are now found throughout North America, in every state of Australia except Western Australia, and over much of the heavily populated parts of South America. The sparrows are one of the few passerine birds that engage in dust bathing. Sparrows will first scratch a hole in the ground with their feet, then lie in it and fling dirt or sand over their bodies with flicks of their wings.