house house bird family found parts world small bird typical length centimetres inches mass grams females young birds coloured pale brown grey males brighter black white brown markings species genus house native europe mediterranean region asia intentional accidental introductions regions including parts australia africa americas widely distributed wild bird house strongly associated human live urban rural settings found widely varied habitats climates typically avoids extensive woodlands away human development feeds seeds grains commonly eats insects foods predators include domestic cats hawks predatory birds mammals numbers association human settlements house culturally prominent extensively usually unsuccessfully persecuted agricultural pest kept pet food item symbol lust sexual widespread abundant numbers declined areas animal conservation status listed concern iucn red list description measurements shape house typically long ranging compact bird chest large rounded head bill stout conical length strongly built adaptation eating seeds tail short long wing chord mass house ranges females usually slightly smaller males median mass european continent sexes southerly subspecies younger birds smaller males larger winter females larger breeding season birds higher latitudes colder climates higher altitudes larger rule subspecies plumage plumage house different shades grey brown sexes exhibit strong female male coloured head markings reddish grey male dark grey crown bill chestnut brown flanking crown sides head black bill throat spaces bill eyes small white stripe crown small white spots immediately eyes black patches pale grey white ear stripes base head upper mantle warm brown broad black streaks lower brown male fresh non breeding plumage whitish tips feathers wear expose bright brown black markings including black throat chest patch called badge badge variable width general size scientists suggested patches signal social status fitness hypothesis led cottage industry studies shown patches increase size age male bill black breeding season horn dark grey rest year female black markings grey crown head brown darker streaks mantle distinct pale pale grey brown female bill brownish grey darker breeding plumage approaching black male bill juveniles similar adult female deeper brown paler paler defined juveniles broader buff feather edges tend plumage like adults juvenile males tend darker white like adult males juvenile female tend white juveniles reliably plumage juvenile males lack markings adult male juvenile females male features bills young birds light yellow straw paler female bill immature males paler versions adult male markings indistinct fresh plumage breeding season young birds generally indistinguishable adults paler year voice house variations short philip note contact resting birds males nest ownership invite pairing breeding season male gives emphasis speed rhythm forming described song similar song young birds true song especially captivity similar european aggressive males version females breeding season establish dominance males displacing feed young eggs house nasal alarm basic sound great distress soft given aggression usually given birds pair unique house shared small variations variation variation subspecies house divided groups oriental group group birds group grey group birds white bright crown smaller bill longer black subspecies differs little nominate subspecies worn breeding plumage male head black paler slightly paler nominate darker paler subspecies grey group birds similar paler smaller nearly identical smaller widespread group subspecies larger paler larger paler larger darker black breast subspecies identification house confused number seed eating birds especially relatives genus relatives smaller appearance dead sea dull coloured female distinguished females nearly identical spanish italian tree smaller slender chestnut crown black patch cheek male spanish italian distinguished chestnut crowns similar smaller black male throat distinct pale female taxonomy names house animals given scientific modern system biological classification described 10th edition described type specimen collected sweden later genus came common relatives house usually placed genus created french zoologist bird scientific usual english meaning latin word like english word term small active birds coming root word referring speed latin word means belonging house like common reference association humans house called number alternative english names including english chiefly north_america indian indian house birds indian names include philip mainly southern england mainly northern england spur mainly scotland german north_america taxonomy genus contains species depending authority according handbook birds world species dull coloured birds short square tails conical long mitochondrial dna studies suggest genus occurred pleistocene earlier evidence suggests occurred years ago house black group close relative mediterranean willow taxonomy house mediterranean relatives highly complicated common type willow spanish resembles house respects frequently prefers habitats house colonial nomadic mediterranean species occur degree north_africa species extensively forming highly variable mixed populations range characters pure house pure spanish italy form apparently intermediate house spanish known italian resembles hybrid species respects intermediate specific status origin subject debate alps italian roughly strip house south southern half italy mediterranean islands spanish mediterranean islands apparently intermediate birds unknown status subspecies large number subspecies named recognised handbook birds world subspecies divided groups group oriental group middle eastern subspecies including considered intermediate group subspecies described species considered distinct nineteenth century migratory birds subspecies group recorded overlapping birds 1970s soviet scientists proposed separation group separate species group group birds large iran split rarely recognised north_america house populations differentiated europe variation follows predictable patterns birds higher latitudes larger arid areas paler clear caused evolution environment similar observations new_zealand south_africa introduced house populations distinct merit subspecies status especially north_america southern africa american gave subspecies paler birds western north_america group nominate subspecies found europe northern asia widely introduced subspecies described found southern france balkans described algeria found libya algeria morocco atlantic coast extensively spanish especially eastern range described found north narrow zone recorded described iran found western central iran south mountains eastern iran afghanistan described palestine found middle_east cyprus south eastern turkey west kuwait east group described iran found southern coast south eastern mountains west subspecies smallest range described found southern northern iran afghanistan central afghanistan unlike house subspecies entirely migratory plains northern indian found open country settlements occupied tree range exceptional record described found western south eastern migratory like described found indian south sri_lanka western southeast_asia eastern iran south western southern israel described saudi_arabia found north eastern described found valley south northern eastern northern red_sea coast introduced distribution habitat house originated middle_east spread agriculture parts north_africa mid nineteenth century reached world chiefly deliberate introductions natural dispersal introduced range encompasses north_america central_america southern south_america southern africa west_africa australia new_zealand islands world greatly extended range northern 1850s continues shown iceland japan extent range makes widely distributed wild bird planet introductions house highly successful parts world introduced early adaptation living humans wide range conditions factors include robust immune response compared tree introduced extend range quickly rate year parts world characterised pest poses threat native birds introductions died limited success greenland cape_verde successful introductions north_america occurred birds england released new_york_city order control house occurs southern panama abundant birds north_america house introduced australia melbourne common eastern continent prevented establishing western_australia house found state killed house introduced new_zealand reached pacific islands including hawaii southern africa birds european subspecies indian subspecies introduced birds ancestry confined towns birds spread rapidly reaching 1980s despite success native relatives cape occur towns competing successfully south_america introduced near buenos_aires quickly common southern continent occurs continuously del fringes isolated populations far north coastal venezuela habitat house closely associated human cultivation humans suggested central asian house usually breed away humans open country birds occasionally found away humans terrestrial habitats house inhabit dense forest adapted living humans frequently lives breeds indoors especially factories warehouses recorded breeding english coal ground feeding observation deck night reaches greatest urban centres reproductive success greater suburbs insects abundant larger scale abundant wheat growing areas variety climates prefers drier conditions especially moist tropical climates adaptations dry areas including high salt tolerance ability survive water eastern asia house entirely absent replaced tree species overlap house usually common tree species replace manner described random range house extremely common despite declines marginal habitats mountain ranges distribution behaviour social behaviour house social bird seasons feeding forming flocks types bird nests usually grouped engages social activities dust water bathing social singing birds bushes house feeds ground flocks trees bushes feeding stations nests female house dominant despite smaller size reproductive period usually spring summer dominant fight males sleep house sleep bill underneath feathers outside reproductive season trees shrubs communal birds settle evening birds leave morning sites separate visited birds prior settling night body maintenance dust water bathing common occurs groups rare head leg wing feeding adult house feeds seeds grains eats foods available towns cities food garbage containers outdoors restaurants eating establishments feed food perform complex tasks obtain food opening automatic doors enter hotel walls watch flowers common birds house requires digest harder items diet stone grains masonry shells eggs rough grains preferred studies house temperate agricultural areas found proportion seeds diet eat seeds choice prefers wheat urban areas house feeds largely food provided directly indirectly humans bread prefers raw seeds house eats plant matter seeds including fruits temperate areas house unusual habit tearing flowers especially yellow ones spring animals form important house diet chiefly insects beetles flies especially important non insect eaten crustaceans available frogs young house fed insects days hatching given small quantities seeds spiders places abundant foods true bugs ants beetles important house advantage foods abundant feed young house observed stealing prey birds including american house flight direct averaging kilometres hour miles hour second ground house typically walks swim pressed pursuit predators captive birds recorded diving swimming short distances underwater dispersal migration house kilometres lifetime limited migration regions young birds disperse long distances especially coasts mountain birds lower elevations winter subspecies predominantly migratory unlike birds populations migrate birds migratory subspecies prepare migration putting weight breeding house breed breeding season immediately following hatching attempt birds breeding time tropical areas months old juvenile plumage birds breeding time rarely successful raising young reproductive success increases age older birds breed earlier breeding season young breeding season approaches releases trigger enormous increases size sexual organs changes day length lead males start calling nesting sites timing mating egg laying varies geographically specific locations years sufficient supply insects needed egg formation feeding males nesting sites breeding season frequently calling males start nest construction particularly frequently attract females female approaches male period male displays moving wings pushing head raising spreading tail showing males try mate females calling displaying response female adopt threatening posture attack male flying away pursued male male displays attracting males pursue display female group display usually immediately result males usually female typically initiated female giving soft male birds pair frequently female laying eggs male mounts female repeatedly time pair mates house typically mates life birds pairs engage extra pair house unrelated mother mate male house guard mates carefully avoid extra pair occurs away nest sites males multiple mates limited aggression females birds find nest mate instead serve nest pairs role increases chances chosen replace lost mate lost mates sexes replaced quickly breeding season formation pair bond birds tied holding nest site paired house recognise away nest nesting nest sites varied preferred nests frequently built houses holes cliffs banks tree nests sandy banks rotten branches frequently uses nests birds banks cliffs old tree cavity nests usually uses deserted nests active ones tree commonly north_america europe putting competition north american cavity contributing population declines especially warmer areas house build nests open branches trees especially nests large birds open nesting sites breeding success tends lower breeding begins late nest easily destroyed damaged storms common nesting sites include street lights neon signs favoured warmth old open topped nests nest usually lack roof enclosed sites outer layer stems roots middle layer dead grass leaves lining feathers paper soft materials nests typically external dimensions size varies greatly building nest initiated male displaying females female assists building active male nest building occurs year especially autumn colder areas house build specially created nests street lights avoid losing heat winter house hold territories defend nests aggressively sex house nests support wide range insects including nest flies species beetle eggs young usually comprise eggs numbers recorded usually laid seven year laid tropics year temperate latitudes fewer laid year especially higher latitudes number eggs clutch greater central asian house migrate clutch year average eggs clutch clutch size affected environmental seasonal conditions female age breeding density brood occurs instances unusually large numbers eggs nest result females laying eggs nests neighbours foreign eggs recognised ejected females house victim brood parasites rarely usually uses nests holes small parasites enter feeds young foods unsuitable young parasites turn house recorded brood parasite american cliff swallow eggs white bluish white greenish white spotted brown grey shape range length width average mass average surface area cm2 eggs tropical subspecies distinctly smaller eggs begin develop deposition yolk days day laying egg white forms followed eggs laid later clutch larger laid larger females egg size hereditary eggs decrease slightly size laying hatching yolk comprises egg egg white shell eggs liquid protein female develops brood patch bare skin plays main eggs male helps cover eggs truly female spends night period male near nest eggs hatch time short period lasting days exceptionally length period decreases ambient temperature increases later breeding season young house remain nest days normally days time fed parents newly hatched house sufficient days longer cold conditions parents swallow produced days later moved away nest chicks eyes open days age days young birds parents ensuing intensive begging sounds young attract replacement parents feed sustain young nest leave period hours stage normally able fly start feeding partly days sustain completely days latest survival adult house annual survival leaving care parents young high mortality rate grow older experienced birds hatched survive breeding season oldest known wild house lived nearly decades found dead years months denmark oldest recorded captive house lived years typical ratio males females population uncertain problems collecting data slight males ages usual predation house main predators cats birds prey animals prey including humans house consumed past people parts world parts mediterranean species bird prey recorded house places extensive records particular major predators cats likely greater impact house populations house common victim european roads bird frequently found dead parasites disease house host huge number parasites diseases effect unknown listed thousands noting list incomplete commonly recorded house common humans include common house comprehensive study house disease found tested spring winter kill large numbers house hosts malaria spread native forest birds hawaii diseases hosted house present humans domestic animals house acts reservoir host virus commonly insects mammals survive winters temperate areas going dormant birds house records disease house populations especially scottish islands rare house infested number external parasites usually cause little harm adult europe common found common common house number occupy different house body occur house body feed blood feathers feed feathers occurs head physiology house express strong rhythms activity laboratory bird species seriously studied terms activity availability captivity find way remain rhythmic constant darkness studies found central house system removal rhythm activity individual individual rhythm phase donor bird shown important component system house involved clock external light dark cycle located brain stimulated light reaching directly skull revealed experiments blind normally light dark cycle failed india ink injected screen skin skull similarly blind house continue reproductive development days long days short response stronger feathers head eliminated india ink injected skin head showing involved response located inside brain house studies external cycle light dark example constant darkness situation birds normally reveal hour free running rhythms activity instead hour exposed hours hours matching daily activity daily house constant dim light daily cycle based presence food finally house constant darkness cycle high low temperature difference temperatures large versus degrees tested matched activity warm phase cold phase relationships humans house closely associated humans believed associated humans years ago subspecies associated humans considered closer ancestral non populations usually regarded pest agricultural products spreads disease humans domestic animals hold little regard birds world house protected law attempts control house include trapping poisoning shooting adults destruction nests eggs directly blocking nest holes noise wire house beneficial humans especially eating insect attempts large scale control house failed house long food item nineteenth century northern europe hung attract nesting birds young readily harvested wild birds trapped nets large numbers pie traditional dish thought association properties trapped food birds zoo animals early twentieth century clubs millions birds eggs attempt control numbers perceived pest impact numbers house kept pets times history bright plumage attractive songs raising difficult status house extremely large range population seriously threatened human activities assessed concern conservation iucn red list populations declining parts world declines noticed north_america initially attributed spread house severe western_europe declines universal declines reported eastern_europe occurred australia house introduced recently great_britain populations peaked early 1970s declined overall regions london house disappeared central city numbers house netherlands dropped half 1980s house considered endangered species status came widespread attention female house referred killed knocking arranged attempt set world record declines unprecedented similar reductions population occurred internal engine replaced horses 1920s major source food form grain lost causes dramatic decreases population proposed including predation particular electromagnetic radiation mobile phones diseases shortage nesting sites caused changes urban building design probably factor conservation organisations encouraged use special nest boxes primary cause decline insufficient supply insect food declines insect populations result increase crops heavy use replacement native plants cities introduced plants parking areas possibly introduction petrol produces toxic compounds protecting insect habitats farms planting native plants cities benefit house establishing urban green spaces raise awareness threats house world day celebrated march world recent years house population decline asian countries decline evident india promote conservation birds chief minister delhi declared house state bird delhi cultural associations people world house familiar wild animal association humans familiarity frequently represent common vulgar reasons introduction house world association european homeland immigrants birds usually described later referred works ancient literature religious texts europe western asia references refer specifically house small seed eating birds later writers inspired texts house mind particular associated ancient greeks goddess love perceived association echoed later writers shakespeare jesus use example divine providence gospel matthew inspired later references shakespeare hamlet gospel hymn eye
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