sparrow

/ˈspɛroʊ/

/ˈspærəʊ/

Other forms: sparrows

A sparrow is a small brown bird. Sparrows live near humans and have a pretty, musical song.

A sparrow is a different bird in the US than it is in other parts of the world. A "true sparrow" is found mainly in Europe, where it commonly nests in the eaves of buildings and in trees in cities. American sparrows got their name because they resemble true sparrows at first glance — they're both small, round, brownish birds — but they're from completely different families.

Definitions of sparrow

1. noun

   any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
   synonyms: true sparrow

   types:

   English sparrow, Passer domesticus, house sparrow

   small hardy brown-and-grey bird native to Europe

   Passer montanus, tree sparrow

   Eurasian sparrow smaller than the house sparrow

   type of:

   passeriform bird, passerine

   perching birds mostly small and living near the ground with feet having 4 toes arranged to allow for gripping the perch; most are songbirds; hatchlings are helpless
2. noun

   small brownish European songbird
   synonyms: Prunella modularis, dunnock, hedge sparrow

   type of:

   accentor

   small sparrow-like songbird of mountainous regions of Eurasia