gjtoth Loc: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

rolf Loc: Kenora Ont.Canada

Nice

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Outstanding, Gary. Very well done. ;-)

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent shot.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

GREAT photo! I yearn for the day I can do half as well. Thanks for sharing.

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Great shot of a humble Spuggy.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

This is probably the most widely distributed species of bird on the planet (followed closely by Herring Gulls). I spent 20 years in the Navy, went darn near around the world, and I saw these in every single port I ever visited. In America we would call this a House Sparrow but most bird watchers know that, in reality, it is a Weaver Finch.

gjtoth Loc: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Thanks very much, y'all!

You're right, Bob. Almost. ;) "The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds (originally published in the 50's, my copy is from 1980) places House Sparrows in the Weaver Finch family but all other references I could find to their taxonomy refer to them as "Old World sparrows". And National Geographic Complete Birds of North America states; "Old World sparrows are not closely-related to New World sparrows in the family Emberizidae. Instead their closest alliance is with the family Ploceidae, in which they were formerly placed." Ploceidae is the weaver finch family. So, basically, House Sparrows used to be weaver finches but recent research shows that they are only closely related to them."

These birds have a multitude of names:

English sparrows
house sparrows
common sparrows
brownies
British call 'em "Spuggies"
Aussies call 'em "Spoggies"
Kids call 'em "MacDonald's birdies"
American DIYers call 'em "Home Depoters"
British DIYers call 'em "BQers"

Macromad Loc: New Zealand

B..... Good shot. where's the rest of the calendar.

gjtoth Loc: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Hehehe... thanks, MM. I suppose I should do SOMETHING with my stuff. ;)