Italian House Sparrows and Tree Sparrows.

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi All,

 

As below, as far as I know, the Italian House Sparrow is a subspecies: Passer domesticus italiae or P. hispaniolensis x italiae (it appears that opinions on that differ), in which the main (only?) visible difference to normal House Sparrows is that the males have a chestnut crown and I think more extensive black bib. It could be a single gene difference (I'm guessing). Whether an equivalent mutation to establish similar looking birds here is more or less likely than the arrival of Tree Sparrows in Canberra, I'm not sure. David mentions the possibility but I doubt (on what Terry wrote) that they are Tree Sparrows. The two species are quite different enough in behaviour, calls, shape and size to notice that there is more than just one colour feature of distinction. As for David's "fortunately", comment, sure we don't want more ferals but the two species are really quite different in appearance and temperament and the Tree Sparrow (unlike the House Sparrow) is really a very likeable bird (that is just my opinion). 

 

Philip