Italian Sparrow

Passer italiae

Rare & scarce vagrants to Britain & many don't get confirmed without any proper DNA samples.

Rare & scarce vagrants from South East Europe, mainly Italy.

The Male has a black patch on its throat and chest, known as a bib or badge.

This patch, like much of the Male's plumage is dull in fresh non-breeding plumage and is brightened by wear and preening.

The Female is nearly identical to the Female House Sparrow, but it differs from the Female Spanish Sparrow in its lack of black streaks on the underparts.

The Male gives a chreep call like that of the Spanish Sparrow to proclaim nest ownership, and a faster version of this as part of courtship display.