Photo: Loz (L. B. Tettenborn) / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Italian Sparrow
Passer italiae
Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 28.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passeridae Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches
- Genus Passer
- Species italiae
Where it lives
Southern temperate southwestern Palearctic in light woods, parks and cereal fields: southeastern France, southern Switzerland, southern Austria, Italian Pen. and western Slovenia, Corsica, Sicily, Malta and Crete
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Italian Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Italian Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) is a member of the Passeridae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL s temperate sw Palearctic in light woods, parks and cereal fields: se France, s Switzerland, s Austria, Italian Pen. and w Slovenia, Corsica, Sicily, Malta and Crete.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.3 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 5.6 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 312,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Italian Sparrow?
The Italian Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 28.3 g.
Where does the Italian Sparrow live?
The Italian Sparrow is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL s temperate sw Palearctic in light woods, parks and cereal fields: se France, s Switzerland, s Austria, Italian Pen. and w Slovenia, Corsica, Sicily, Malta and Crete, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Italian Sparrow belong to?
The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Italian Sparrow eat?
The Italian Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Italian Sparrow migrate?
The Italian Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Italian Sparrow endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Italian Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Italian Sparrow — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Italian Sparrow's range?
The Italian Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 312,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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