OW Sparrows, Finches and Wagtails

The first gallery features images Old World sparrows (Passeridae), while the second displays Finches (Fringillidae) and Wagtails (Motacillidae) see Taxonomy note at the end of this page. These birds are specialised seed eaters but also supplement their diet with insects and other invertebrates. Habitats include grassy and shrubby areas. Bill shape varies according to primary food source ranging from sharp to rounded. Some species feed on the ground while other perch or hang on plants.

OW Sparrows

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus malaccensis) in Singapore's Botanical Gardens — Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus malaccensis) in Singapore’s Botanical Gardens

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Male on ground at The Lost Gardens of Helaman in Cornwall

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Female at Cairns Esplanade in Queensland

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Juvenile on ground at Cairns Esplanade in Queensland

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Male in breeding plumage at Christchurch Botanic Gardens

OW Sparrow Notes

All the species featured in the gallery are ‘Red List 2019’ assessed as ‘Least Concern’. Eurasian Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows are a seed-eating specialist at home in open country, villages and urban areas. Only the house sparrow is plumage dimorphic.

Finches and Wagtails

Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea rodwayi) Male perched at Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad

Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) Female perched at Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Male near Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina) Male perched at Yateley Common in England

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) at Farewell Split in New Zealand

Pied [White] Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) at Horseshoe Lake in Berkshire, England

Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) at Moor Green Lakes in Berkshire, England

Finch and Wagtail Notes

The ‘red list 2019’ of threatened species lists all the featured species as ‘Least Concern’. Old World sparrows inhabit the Palearctic and Afrotropic ecoregions. Finches populate most regions of the world except for Australasia, although there are some introduced resident species in this region. Wagtails, including the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), are mostly African or Eurasian species with a few in the Americas. The Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii), a darker subspecies inhabits the British Isles.

Euphonia part of the finch family but only found in South America. I photographed a couple of finch species in New Zealand where they seem to be more numerous than some indigenous birds. Apart from the Goldfinch, the other displayed species exhibit plumage dimorphism.

Euphonia Behaviour

Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea rodwayi) Male feeding at Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad

Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea rodwayi) Female feeding at Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad

Euphonia Behaviour Notes

Images of male and female Violaceous Euphonia feeding at Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad.

Ow Sparrows, Wagtails, and Finches Taxonomy

The simplified family tree figure illustrates the taxonomy relevant to Old World Sparrows, Wagtails, and Finches photo album.

J Boyd’s Taxonomy in Flux Checklist places the Passerid Clade in Core Passeroidea, the featured photo album families include:
(a) Passeridae (Old World Sparrows),
(b) Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits),
(c) and Fringillidae (Finches).
Motacillidae and Fringillidae are Basal group members of the Nine-primaried Oscines.

The Finches gallery features images from Fringillinae (Chaffinches basal group), subfamilies Euphoniinae (Euphonias) and Carduelinae.