Sparrows are one the most easily recognized birds in the world.
Not only are they numerous, living on almost every continent – they’re also easy to identify by their brown upperparts, gray underparts, and dark brown masks.
Not to mention, they’re sociable, cheeky, and sometimes boisterous behavior makes them super easy to spot!
But, did you know that there are quite a few other birds that look like sparrows but actually aren’t?
If you’ve noticed a small, brown bird flitting around your backyard or local park recently that you think was a sparrow, but something just doesn’t seem right, we’re here to help!
Below, you’ll find a list of 16 birds that look like Sparrows.
House Sparrow
It might be a good idea to start off our list by looking at the House Sparrow itself, which is the most common of all members of the Sparrow family.
That way, you’ll be able to recognize them straight away and know if you’re actually looking at a Sparrow or not.
The House Sparrow can be identified by its dark brown upperparts that are streaked with black, its gray underparts, gray cap, and dark brown mask.
This little bird also has a horizontal white bar on the wing, sometimes streaked with black.
House Sparrows are abundant all over the world, and can be found in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Most are non-migratory, however, in colder regions of North America they may head a little further South when the temperatures start to fall too far.
They will return for the breeding season during the spring, though.
Their preferred habitat is almost as varied as their geographical locations, and House Sparrows can be found in meadows, wetlands, swamps, grasslands, open fields, backyards, and parks.
They also have a very varied diet and, while they prefer to feed on insects during the summer, they will also eat an array of seeds, nuts, and suet. They aren’t shy when it comes to visiting bird feeders, either.
Harris’s Sparrow
The Harris’s Sparrow is the largest of all species of Sparrow measures around 9-inches in length and can be identified by its light brown upperparts with black streaks, white underparts, and black streaks on the side of its body.
It also has a black throat, crown, and face with a small gray spot on either cheek.
The Harris’s Sparrow can be found in most parts of North America; however, it is most abundant in Florida and Texas.
It lives in a variety of different habitats but always nests in low vegetation near a source of water.
Like most members of the Sparrow family, the Harris’s Sparrow isn’t a particularly fussy eater and will feed on seeds, nuts, and suet.
It prefers to feed on insects during the summer, and you’ll often see this bird hopping from tree branch to tree branch, picking off insects.
Black-Capped Chickadee
More often mistaken for a Sparrow due to its size than its markings, the Black-Capped Chickadee is a small bird that measures around 6-inches in length.
As you may have guessed from its name, this bird can be identified by its black cap. It also has a black bib, white cheeks, and pale underparts. Its upper parts, tail, and wings are dark gray.
Like Sparrows, the Black-Capped Chickadee is a very sociable bird who lives in groups.
Their preferred habitat is mixed woodlands or forests, although they have also been spotted in open countryside and urban gardens.
Almost exclusively insectivorous, the Black-Capped Chickadee feeds on caterpillars, wasps, ants, spiders, beetles, and any other creepy crawlies it happens upon.
It will visit bird feeders well stocked with peanuts or suet during the colder months though, so be certain to offer these if you’d like to invite this bird into your garden.
Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren is famed for its loud voice which, compared to its tiny body, is very impressive!
With this in mind, you’re far more likely to hear one before you see it, but when you do locate it, you can identify it by the brown-orange upperparts and white underparts.
The Carolina Wren also has a white throat and a white eye stripe.
Found in most parts of Northern America (the only exceptions being Hawaii and Florida), the Carolina Wren makes its cup-shaped nest at the base of trees.
This is usually in dense vines or shrubs. Here, they hunt for insects including grasshoppers, spiders, and ants. They will also visit bird feeders during the winter that are well stocked with seeds.
Dickcissel
Another, but very unknown, member of the Sparrow family, the Dickcissel is a small bird that has brown upperparts, a pale-yellow breast, and pale-yellow underparts.
They also sport two yellow lines that run horizontally across the face, rust-orange shoulders, and some black streaking across the back.
Non-native to North America, the Dickcissel spends its spring and summer here before migrating back to Central America for the winter.
Their preferred habitat is open areas such as prairies, fields, and grasslands. Here, they search for seeds in low vegetation, along with certain insects such as crickets and grasshoppers.
Song Sparrow
The Song Sparrow is another non-native bird of North America and, while it can be found mostly in the Eastern States during the spring and summer, it heads back South to Central America and Mexico as soon as fall starts rolling in.
Identifiable by its light brown upperparts and white underparts, much like the House Sparrow, the Song Sparrow features black markings all over its body.
It also has light brown markings on the chest and a light gray face with brown streaks, which are one of the easiest things to identify it by.
Song Sparrows are quite happy to set up their home in a variety of places including parks, wetlands, pastures, and backyards.
Like most small songbirds, they are almost exclusively insectivorous during the summer but will visit feeders with seeds and suet during the winter.
Purple Finch
Measuring an average of 5-inches long, the Purple Finch is around the same size as a Sparrow.
It also has some remarkably similar markings including black and white-streaked, dark brown upperparts and pale underparts.
One of the biggest giveaways that it isn’t a Sparrow, however, is its namesake purple crown and breast.
Common across most of North America’s Eastern States, the Purple Finch can be found all year round.
It is particularly abundant during the winter months though, and easier to spot with its rose-purple coloring standing out against the snow and ice.
The Purple Finch’s preferred habitat is coniferous or mixed woodland, where it feeds on a variety of different seeds and can often be seen searching under leaves and bark for their next meal.
They will also visit feeders in the colder months when naturally-occurring food is scarce.
White-Throated Sparrow
The White-Throated Sparrow can be identified by its red-brown upperparts, white underparts, and black markings across the back and wings that most members of the Sparrow family have.
Unsurprisingly, it also has a white throat, as well as a dark brown vertical stripe on the head and a yellow patch just above each eye.
These little birds measure around 6-inches in length and are most commonly found in fields and woodlands throughout North America. The White-Throated Sparrow is also native to Europe, South America, and Central America.
Not a particularly fussy eater, the White-Throated Sparrow feeds on insects, seeds, nuts, fruits, and suet. They will also happily visit bird feeders, but be warned; they have quite a ravenous appetite for such a small bird!
American Tree Sparrow
Another of North America’s most common birds, the American Tree Sparrow bears a striking resemblance to the House Sparrow.
It has brown wings and upper parts that are marked with black, gray underparts and lighter gray cheeks.
It also sports a dark brown cap and black mask. The only real thing that separates the two is that the American Tree Sparrow is smaller in size.
Their range is vast, covering Mexico to Canada and almost every State in between.
Another thing that separates the American Tree Sparrow from the House Sparrow is that they are a little fussier about where they live, mainly setting up home in meadows, grasslands, and fields.
Their diet is as varied as you’d expect from a member of the Sparrow family, and they will feed on anything they come across including insects, seeds, fruit, suet, and nuts.
House Finch
The House Finch is often mistaken for either a House Sparrow or Purple Finch thanks to its unique, rather beautiful markings.
It has the classic “Sparrow” wings; dark brown streaked with white and black. The tail matches the wings, and it has white underparts.
Things get a little more colorful when it comes to the head, however, which is bright red all over aside from a gray patch across each eye.
Native to North America, the House Finch can be found in a multitude of habitats including woodland, marshes, wetlands, parks, and gardens.
Essentially, as long as there is a reliable food source, they’ll happily roost nearby! This food includes insects, berries, nuts, and seeds.
They have a particular fondness for nyjer seeds, so make sure you include these in your feeders if you’d like to attract the House Finch to your garden.
Chirping Sparrow
The Chirping Sparrow is another very common bird throughout North America, and it can be found throughout spring and summer in almost every State.
Come winter, it stays in North America but tends to migrate to Central California to avoid super cold temperatures.
Its most obvious identifier is the orange cap on the top of its head, pale gray face, and black eye stripe.
It also has pale gray underparts, light brown wings streaked with dark brown and white, and bright orange legs. Size-wise, the Chirping Sparrow measures around 5 inches long.
Unlike a lot of members of the Sparrow family, the Chirping Sparrow sticks to areas with a nearby source of water, such as grasslands near a river or stream.
Here, they’ll hunt for insects during the spring and summer but will venture further afield in search of nuts, suet, and seeds during winter.
Dark-Eyed Junco
Another member of the Sparrow family, the Dark-Eyed Junco is most commonly found in the Eastern United States.
It can be identified by its light-gray, almost white, feathers that cover its entire body. And, as its name suggests, the Dark-Eyed Junco has a jet-black eye.
Interestingly, its coloring can differ depending on the elevation of its location, getting dark the higher above sea level they roost.
Their preferred habitat is dense forests or other areas with heavy vegetation.
This type of habitat almost guarantees an abundance of insects to feed on during spring and summer, but they will also visit nearby bird feeders to snack on seed when food is scarce.
Cassin’s Finch
At a passing glance, it can be easy to see why somebody might mistake the Cassin’s Finch for a Sparrow.
Not only is it around the same size as a House Sparrow, but it has dark brown upperparts and wings that are streaked with dark brown and white.
However, the most obvious of its difference lies with the head, which is bright red all over. Males are a little brighter in color than females, but both sexes have the same markings.
The Cassin’s Finch is most commonly spotted in Northern California, although its range does extend to Nevada, Oregon, and Mexico.
They live in a variety of habitats including scrubland and oakwood forests, but they seem to have a preference for setting up home in coniferous forests.
Here, there is an abundance of seed, berries, and insects for them to feed on.
White-Crowned Sparrow
Unlike many members of the Sparrow family, the White-Crowned Sparrow is covered with gray and black feathers.
They feature hardly any brown plumage at all, aside from some very light brown streaks on the wings.
It has a black eye stripe and, of course, its namesake white crown that is flanked with black lines.
Quite secretive birds, you’re most likely to spot a White-Crowned in the spring when they start looking for nesting materials and bringing food back to their nesting partner.
Their preferred habitat is mixed woodland near a source of water and, here, the male will do all of the hunting – carrying back insects to the female while she incubates the eggs and to the young chicks once hatched.
House Wren
Another very common bird throughout North America, the House Wren is a tiny, Sparrow-like bird that weighs around 4 inches in length.
It has light brown upperparts, even lighter brown underparts, and its wings, flanks, and tail are marked with black.
Mainly insectivorous, the House Wren sets up its home in an area near water such as creeks and marshes.
Here there is usually an abundance of caterpillars, spiders, and beetles for them to feed on. Come winter, they’ll eat any available seeds or fruit, such as berries from holly trees.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Finishing up our list with another member of the Sparrow family, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is one of the rarer species across North America. Its light-orange crown, black throat, and white cheeks can be identified.
It also has dark brown upperparts and wings, as well as one other identifier that separates them from House Sparrows; thin, white wing bars.
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow can be found in a variety of habitats including urban parks and gardens, mixed woodland, marshes, wetlands, and anywhere else with a nearby source of water.
They build their nests close to the ground out of twigs and line it with grasses.
Like most Sparrows, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow will eat anything that is available. This includes seeds, insects, suet, nuts, and berries. So, while fairly rare, you can help encourage them into your backyard with plenty of feeders stocked with a variety of food.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, loads of different birds can easily be mistaken for Sparrows.
So, next time you think you’ve spotted something that looks like a Sparrow, but you’re not quite certain, be sure to check out the list above!