House Sparrow

Unnoticed biodiversity

Identification

Common name: House Sparrow
Latin name: Passer domesticus
Length: 15 cm
Distinguishing features: conical beak; males have a black bib and grey crown with chestnut-brown sides
Habitat: human-commensal species (companions of humans for millennia)
Diet: omnivorous
Status: heritage species, Vulnerable in the Ile-de-France region
Nesting period: March to July

Seen in the garden

The Louvre’s garden houses a population of House Sparrows that build their nests in the crevices of the façades.

In spring, observe the façade of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and listen carefully: behind the sculptures, you can spot many nests and hear their chirping.

House Sparrow - chirping call of an individual then a colony

Audio

1 min.

Did you know?

This species was once extremely abundant in Paris.
It is seen on postcards from around 1900 showing the famous Tuileries bird charmer. Its numbers have declined sharply: a drop of over 70% was seen in fifteen years, with between 2,500 and 4,000 pairs recorded in 2015–2018. Fortunately, populations remain in favourable environments such as the Louvre’s gardens. Heureusement quelques populations subsistent dans des espaces propices, dont les jardins du musée du Louvre.

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