The sparrow name may originate from the Anglo-Saxon word spearwa which meant flutterer. The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) in particular inhabit cities in large numbers, so sparrows are among the most familiar of all wild birds. They are primarily seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects. Some species scavenge for food around cities and, like gulls or rock doves, will happily eat virtually anything in small quantities. Though a long-established resident of Britain and Europe, it’s not thought to be a native, but spread naturally north from North Africa.
See also: Dead Sea sparrow, Golden winged sparrow, House sparrow, Java sparrow, Large billed savannah sparrow, Prevost's ground sparrow, Rufous-collared sparrow, Swahili sparrow, Tree sparrow, White-crowned sparrow
