Description
The House Sparrow is a compact bird, typically about 16 cm (6.3 in) long, ranging from 14–18 cm (5.5–7.1 in). It has a large rounded head, and a stout bill with a culmen length of 1.1 to 1.5 cm (0.43 to 0.59 in). It has a short tail, 5.2 to 6.5 cm (2.0 to 2.6 in) long. The wing chord is 6.7 to 8.9 cm (2.6 to 3.5 in), and the tarsus is 1.6 to 2.5 cm (0.63 to 0.98 in). In weight, the House Sparrow ranges from 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Weight varies by sex, with females usually smaller than males. The median weight on the European continent for both sexes is about 30 g (1.1 oz), and in more southerly subspecies is around 26 grams (0.92 oz). Younger birds are smaller, males are larger during the winter, and females are larger during the breeding season. Between and within subspecies, there is further variation based on latitude, altitude, climate, and other environmental factors, under biological principles such as Bergmann's rule.
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