Italian Sparrow

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 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.