Microinteractions

Colophon

There are two species of sparrow on the cover of Microinteractions: the English sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea). Although these two sparrows look alike, they come from different genera.

The English sparrow, or House sparrow, is more closely related to the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) than it is to the American tree sparrow. The English sparrow has a round head, a plump body, short legs, and averages 16 cm in length. While it is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it has the widest geographical spread of any non-domestic bird, in large part due to its introduction to North America in 1851.

Far from being an endangered species, the English sparrow is considered a pest in many places. It is commonly found in settled areas and will flock to bird feeders, displacing rarer birds that the feeders are intended to attract. English sparrows mate in monogamous pairs, although not every sparrow chooses a mate upon maturity. Instead, some sparrows serve as helpers for a breeding pair, increasing the likelihood of there being a replacement mate if one of the pair dies. English sparrows make their nests in and around human dwellings, and will sometimes evict other birds in order to occupy their nests.

The American tree sparrow resembles the English sparrow, but is more closely related to other American sparrows, such as the Chipping sparrow and Brewer’s sparrow. It is about the same size as the English sparrow and has a rust-colored ...