Belonging to the Passeridae family and known as Gouraiya, measures 14-16 centimetres in length and weighs 26-32 grams, featuring short legs, thick bills, and a wingspan of 19-25 cm
2.
Studies on their DNA reveal that 15% of sparrow offspring result from infidelity, showcasing a dimorphic nature where males and females are distinctly different
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Once ubiquitous, house sparrows are now facing rapid decline, with certain regions in India experiencing an 80% reduction in their numbers, prompting concern from conservationists
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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the house sparrow as endangered, with some urban populations plummeting by up to 99%
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Native to Eurasia and North Africa, the house sparrow enjoys a wide distribution, absent only in Antarctica, China, and Japan, thriving especially in the Asian subcontinent's favourable climate
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Introduced to North America from England in 1851, the house sparrow population in the region has grown to over 150 million
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A close relationship with humans has not prevented a significant decline in the sparrow population over the last two decades, attributed to urbanization, pollution, and modern architecture
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While adult house sparrows primarily eat a vegetarian diet, their young feed on insects to satisfy their nutritional needs after hatching
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Cats are a major predator of juvenile house sparrows, with many young birds falling victim soon after leaving the nest
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Remarkably, house sparrows have developed the ability to swim, even underwater, as a survival tactic when threatened