Sparrows of India In India, five different species of sparrows are found, with Passer domesticus or the house sparrow being the most abundant and widespread. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Widespread resident, except in parts of northeast and North West sub-continent. Male has grey crown, black throat and upper breast, chestnut nape, and brownish mantle. Female has buffish supercilium and unstreaked greyish-white underparts. Breeds in Habitation; also cultivation in winter. Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) Winter visitor. Pakistan, Nepal and N India. Male has chestnut crown, black breast, and streaking on flanks, and blackish mantle with pale braces; patern obscured by pale fringes in non-breeding season. Female distinguishable from female house sparrow by longer whitish supercilium, fine streaking on underparts, and pale braces. Cultivation, semi-desert and reedbeds. Sind Sparrow (Passer pyrrhonotus) Resident: Pakistan and Northwest India. Smaller and slimmer than house sparrow, with finer bill. Male distinguishable from male house by chestnut on head restricted to crescent around ear-converts; also grey ear-converts, and small black throat patch. Female from female house by more prominent buffish-white suppercilium, greyish ear-converts, and warmer buffish-brown lower back and rump. trees close to water. Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans) Resident: Himalayas and North Eastern Indian hills. Male lacks black cheek patch; has bright chestnut mantle, and yellowish wash to underparts. Female has prominent supercilium and dark eye-stripe, rufous-brown scapulars and rump, and yellowish wash to underparts. Open forest, forest edges, and cultivation. Range of Russet Sparrow Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Northeast India, Eastern Ghats, and Bangladesh. Chestnut crown and black spot on the ear-converts. Sexes similar. Birds in NW are paler than those in NE. Habitation and cultivation.

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