Very good answer from Bill. I would add that there are of course many species
of the genus Passer (which are the sparrows, the nominate genus of the order,
from which the word passerine is derived) and only two of those were introduced
to Australia. America also has another different family of birds, many or maybe
all of which are called sparrows but these are not the same genus.
The differences between the House Sparrow & Tree Sparrows are far greater than
just "physical differences between them mostly about the head". They are very
different in the extent of sexual dimorphism and as a corollary or consequence
in their social behaviour. (This was the subject of a thesis I did a long time
ago.) The Tree Sparrows being very unusual among a group in which most species
are sexual dimorphic, in that the female plumage is like the typical for the
males of the genus.
I would also add that the native finch the Diamond Firetail is also unhelpfully
called Diamond Sparrow sometimes.
Philip
|
