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Mr. House Sparrow


Mr. House Sparrow
Photo Information
Copyright: Jane Magen (jaycee) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon SX10IS
Exposure: f/5.7, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-09-26 8:14
Viewed: 272
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
House Sparrow

The male House Sparrow has a brown back with black streaks. The top of the crown is gray, but the sides of the crown and nape are chestnut red. The chin, throat, and upper breast are black, and the cheeks are white. Females and juveniles are less colorful. They have a gray-brown crown and a light brown or buff eye stripe. The throat, breast, and belly are grayish-brown and unstreaked.

This species was purposely introduced to North America between 1850 and 1870. The introduction was successful, and House Sparrow populations soon exploded. Now, they can be found almost anywhere in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. These birds are year-round residents, and their distribution is closely associated with human habitation. They are found in agricultural, suburban, and urban areas, and they tend to avoid woodlands, forests, grasslands, and deserts.

House Sparrows forage on the ground, eating a variety of seeds and grains, sometimes obtained from livestock feed or livestock droppings. They also eat insects, spiders, and fruits in the summer.

House Sparrows are monogamous, and the long-term pair bond is maintained throughout and between breeding seasons. This species is highly social, breeding in small colonies or loose groups.

Once the male establishes a territory, he remains there throughout the year. When the breeding season begins, he aggressively defends a nest site and will not leave, even if his mate disappears. This extreme site fidelity creates intense competition between species for nest sites. Males that begin guarding territories early in the season often prevent later-arriving migratory species from nesting. Additionally, sparrows have been known to evict birds that attempt to nest in their territory. In displacing a nesting pair, male sparrows destroy eggs, kill nestlings, and sometimes even kill incubating females. For this reason, the presence of House Sparrows is believed to be a factor in the decline of many native species, such as Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows.

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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2009-09-26 8:17]

Hello Jane,
Another very beautiful photo. The pose of the House Sparrow is great. Excellent sharpness and details and the colours are gorgeous. Fantastic composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Jane,
a splendid picture of one of your favourite birds, excellent POV showing a lovely pose of this male against the blue sky, very good sharpness and beautiful natural colours.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

hello Jane
very good composition with good details and good sharpness
a beauty!!
greeting lou

hello Jane
"splendid" pose,it is created from your very good POV,beautiful scene,the colours natural whith good light,fine output!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8625] (32146)
  • [2009-09-26 9:22]

Hi Jane. It sounds as if its still hot out there . I am sure it will cool down soon. A good view of this House Sparrow. Taken with fine detail and natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Jane
Wonderful capture, great colored details, good POV,BG.
Mariana

Hello Jane,

A great & beautiful capture of this House Sparrow with very nice coloration, sharpness & details. Lovely POV, pose & BG.

Very nicely done & TFS.

Best wishes

Umar

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2009-09-26 10:43]

Hello Jane.
Excellent photo of this little sparrow with beautiful color, nice exposure, outstanding focus, nice catch light in eye, and great composition.Best regards Siggi

Hello Jane, splendid shot of this handsome sparrow with nice point of view and composition.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hello Jane, lovely and great shot of this beautiful sparrow. Nice composition, details and POV.
TFS and regards, Bahadır

Hi BSJ,

An another lovely and perfect capture of a MR. Sparrow in a lovely pose on a branch with neat details and delightful composition.
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

hello Jane

a beautiful photo of the House Sparrow, with that style
fine POV that you have the copyright (smiling),
i love the way it framed on the image and his
wonderful eye-contact with you, TFS

Asbed

Hello Jane,

a very good composition with good pov.
Exellent details in the feathers with fine colours.

Gert

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2009-09-27 2:17]

Hello jane,
As he turned to look at you, you caught this cock House Sparrow in a majestic pose with fine sharpness and in superb lighting against the sort of sky that we up in the north have ahd a taste of in the summer but now the autumn clouds are here!
Nice composition on the oak branch.
Thanks and all the best,
Ivan

Hi,
Good to see the sparrow in fine lighting with good background. tfs.
nagraj.v

Hello Jane,
Very good capture of mister House Sparrow, excellent colour & BG.
Best regards, Ferran.

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9083)
  • [2009-09-28 2:47]

Hi Jane,
what a proud pose by the sparrow. Well taken in great clarity and sharpness.
The blue sky always give a marvellous background.
Well presented in excellent view.

regards,
Foozi

What's really puzzling is how these once common birds of the recent past, are rarely seen these days.
I've read about them almost disappearing from the United Kingdom...I'm witness to the same happening here in India..
a very beautiful shot, Sis!
I love the almost majestic attitude -if I may- that you've captured so beautifully!
Cheers!
goldy

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 504 W: 20 N: 1385] (4841)
  • [2009-09-28 18:35]

Hello Jane,
Great shot of Mr. Sparrow. Nicely composed with that beautiful Arizona sky in the BG to help show him off.
Ron

Hi Jane..
what a lovely capture of a pretty sparrow..
Great details and pov.
TFS. Kind regards,
Özgür

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