Photo copyright: A/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Angola • Nov 2009

Bird name: Grey Headed Sparrow
Latin: Passer griseus
Other: Northern Grey Headed Sparrow
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows

Here is the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Africa’s answer to the House Sparrow.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Italy - Romania • May 2009

Bird name: Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Latin: Passer montanus
Other: Moineau friquet (Fr)
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows

The Tree Sparrow is far less common than the similar House Sparrow and can be easily differentiated by the small patch of black on its cheek and wholly rufous top of head. Also found throughout Europe and much of Asia.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lake Garda Italy May 2009

Bird name: Italian Sparrow
Latin: Passer italiae
Other: Passer hispaniolensis • Italiensperling (De)
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows

The Italian Sparrow is sometimes considered a subspecies of Spanish Sparrow or hybrid with House Sparrow.

The male has a full chestnut cap and white cheeks like the Spanish Sparrow but a pale belly without black spotting, so unlike the Spanish Sparrow in that respect.

The female (below) looks like the female House Sparrow, but identified here by proximity to males.

Some photos of courtship below in “more photos”. She pecks him on the head, they both bow and display plumage.

These photos were taken by Lake Garda in Northern Italy, a typical location.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, RJ, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: Rufous Collared Sparrow
Latin: Zonotrichia capensis
Other: Tico-tico (Br) • Chingolo, Chincol, Cachilo, Copetón, Pichitanca (Es)
Family: Emberizidae • American Sparrows

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is found throughout South and Central America, often near human habitation.

These birds in Itatiaia would feed at dawn on the great numbers of insects that collected around the hotel lights at night. With the aid of the geckos and a few other birds the whole compound was cleaned up by about 7.30!

Adults Rufous-collared Sparrows have a characteristic rufous collar, whereas juveniles lack this and have streaked underparts.

Seen frequently in Itatiaia, Ubatuba and Mostardas.



More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Image: Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Grassland Sparrow
Latin: Ammodramus humeralis
Other: Tico-tico-do-campo (Br) • Cachilo Ceja Amarilla (Es), Manimbe, Chingolo de Ceja Amarilla
Family: Emberizidae • American Sparrows

The Grassland Sparrow is recognised by that yellow mark above the lores on the face. It is found throughout Brazil and much of South America.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: House Sparrow
Latin: Passer domesticus
Other: Moineau domestique
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

A ringed female House Sparrow above. Detail of male below. Widespread in Europe and even quite visible in Americas.More photos...