Photo: Tisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Russet Sparrow
Passer cinnamomeus
Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 18.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passeridae Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches
- Genus Passer
- Species cinnamomeus
Where it lives
Temperate to subtropical central, eastern Asian woodland, settlements: Himalayas from northeastern Afghanistan to southeastern Tibet, northern Myanmar and hills south of Brahmaputra, through central, eastern China (except northern) and northern southeastern Asia to southern Sakhalin (southeastern Russia), southern Kuril Is., Hokkaido to central Honshu (northern, central Japan), Korean Pen. and Taiwan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 18.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Russet Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Russet Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) is a species of bird in the Passeridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, OR temperate to subtropical c, e Asian woodland, settlements: Himalayas from ne Afghanistan to se Tibet, n Myanmar and hills s of Brahmaputra, through c, e China (except n) and n se Asia to s Sakhalin (se Russia), s Kuril Is., Hokkaido to c Honshu (n, c Japan), Korean Pen. and Taiwan.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 18.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Russet Sparrow?
The Russet Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 18.5 g.
Where does the Russet Sparrow live?
The Russet Sparrow is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering PAL, OR temperate to subtropical c, e Asian woodland, settlements: Himalayas from ne Afghanistan to se Tibet, n Myanmar and hills s of Brahmaputra, through c, e China (except n) and n se Asia to s Sakhalin (se Russia), s Kuril Is., Hokkaido to c Honshu (n, c Japan), Korean Pen. and Taiwan, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Russet Sparrow belong to?
The Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Russet Sparrow eat?
The Russet Sparrow is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Russet Sparrow migrate?
The Russet Sparrow is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Russet Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Russet Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Russet Sparrow — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Russet Sparrow's range?
The Russet Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 4.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Passeridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.