Identification - The breeding male has a brown back with black streaking, a black throat and upper breast often referred to as a "bib", a gray crown, light cheeks, and rich chestnut on the back of the head. The bill is black. In flight, a striking white wing bar is visible.
Morsels - In late 1851 and early 1852 about 100 House Sparrows were transported from Europe and released in Brooklyn, New York. These spread quickly to establish populations in settled areas of the Atlantic seaboard. About 20 years later, birds were released at San Francisco and Salt Lake City which soon colonized much of western North America.
Today, this alien inhabits most areas on the continent where there is human habitation except the far north.