480 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE, 
217. English Sparrow. Passer domesticus (Linn.). 
Synonyms: House Sparrow, European House Sparrow, Sparrow.—T'ringilla domestica, 
Linn., 1758.—Passer domesticus of most authors. 
Figure 114. 
The adult male has a clear ash-gray crown, deep black throat and upper 
breast, with white on both sides, and a conspicuous chestnut collar or cape 
extending from the eyes along the sides and back of neck. The wings and 
back are streaked chestnut and black with a short white bar on the shoulder, 
the “chip” which the little fighter carries on his shoulder as a challenge 
to all others of his kind. 
Distribution.—Nearly the whole of Europe and practically all of 
temperate North America, as well as Australia, New Zeeland and parts of 
South America. Originally a European bird, it has been carried all over 
the world and has now become naturalized in almost all temperate climates 
of both the northern and southern hemispheres. 
The English Sparrow, more properly known as the European House 
Sparrow, was first brought to America, so far as we know, in the fall of 1850, 
when eight pairs were 
brought to Brooklyn, 
N. Y. and liberated in 
the spring of the follow- 
ing year. Since this 
time there have been 
scores, probably hun- 
dreds of importations, 
and small lots of spar- 
rows have been trans- 
ferred from one city in 
the United States to 
another, and — subse- 
quently transfers — of 
these plantings have 
been made until the bird 
is now naturalized over 
practically the whole 
United States. 
So far as we can learn 
the first birds were 
brought to Jackson, Fig. 114. English Sparrow. Adult male. 
Michigan, between 1874 From Bull. 1. Biol. Survey, U. 8. Dept. Agriculture. 
and 1876, and four birds were liberated at Owosso in 1876. The place from 
which these birds were obtained is not known. The Sparrow is now 
abundant throughout all the larger towns and cities of the entire state and 
also in most of the smallest villages and hamlets, unless these are situa- 
ted at considerable distances from any railroad or lake or river port. 
Its habits are too well known to need extended mention. It is an 
unmitigated pest, whose good points are so few that they may be summed 
up in a few lines. The Sparrow remains with us through the winter and 
his presence does something to enliven that nearly birdless season; it eats 
