Stockton University

A Family and its Niche:

Passeridae

Brittany Moore
Ecological Principles
Jamie Cromartie
February 26, 2016

All species that exist on earth have evolved from a common ancestor, but through natural
selection and adaptive radiation there are now a wide diversity of organisms inhabiting the earth.
In my paper I will describe the defining characteristics of the family Passeridae and their role in
their habitat. The family Passeridae is found under the kingdom Animalia, the phylum Chordata,
the class Aves, and the order Passeriformae (Wikipedia). Organisms under the class Aves are
feathered vertebrates who lay hard-shelled eggs. They have four chambered hearts, porous, light
skeletons, and a high metabolism rate (Scott 2010). Aves are a highly successful class with
approximately 10,000 species (Anon 2001). The order Passeriformae can be described as the
dominant component of the worlds avifauna with more than 5,000 species or more than half of
all extant bird species (Scott 2010). All passerines have retained throughout adaptive radiation a
unique preen gland and sperm morphology. Passerines have helical spermatozoa structure that
moves forward via a spinning action. Passerines also share an antisodactyl toe arrangement
adapted for perching and a uniform feather tract (Scott 2010).
Passeridae, also known as Old World Sparrows are smaller to medium size birds ranging
from 12 to 18 cm long in adults (Camfield 2004). They are plump with a short tail and lack
coloration. Their feather colors range from black, grey, and white to yellow and rufous with most
displaying a black bib under their beak and throat and some on their head. Their bills are thick
and short with a decurved tip (Wikipedia). Like most birds, Passeridae are usually sexually
dimorphic with males being brighter in color and slightly larger than females. Under Passeridae
there are 11 genera and 40 species (Kelley N.D.). Passeridae are the most widespread bird
family in the world. Chances are if you saw a small brown bird its a Passeridae.
Old World Sparrows are gregarious birds mostly found in flocks. They can be found in
large groups while searching for food and roosting. Sparrows participate in colonial dust bathing,

but will also bathe in water when available and sometimes melting snow (Wikipedia). Colonial
bathing is often followed by group singing and preening. Most Passeridae have loose breeding
colonies except the great sparrow which breeds in solitary pairs and remain in small family
groups (Wikipedia). Most members of the family are non-migratory and are able withstand the
changing climate (Camfield 2004).
Passeridae have a wide range of environments and are found on every continent beside
Antarctica in elevations ranging from sea level to 4500m (Clements 1993). They are indigenous
to Europe, Africa, and Asia but are also found in North America, Australia, southern and eastern
Africa, and populated areas of South America (Wikipedia). They have a high tolerance to a large
range of circumstances and climatic conditions. One key aspect to the success of the Passeridae
family is their ability to exploit many different habitats and a flexible lifestyles. They can be
found in rocky arid areas, to open woodlands, swamps, marshy areas, scrub lands, savannas,
forest clearings, coastal cliffs and near agricultural, and urban landscapes (Wikipedia). Sparrows
are so adaptable that cases of sparrows nesting have been reported in airports, shopping malls,
and even a coal mine (Camfield 2004). Unlike many other families in the Aves class, Passeridae
lacks a habitat limiting factors. They are opportunistic nesters and will nest in any man-made
nook or cranny, branches of trees, or telegraph poles (Wikipedia).
Passeridae have undergone a few radiative adaptations. During the severe climatic period
of the Pleistocene evolution of nine separate Passer species were created (Summers-Smith 2010).
The nine species were driven into three separate regions and separated into isolated populations.
With the retreat of the ice at the end of the Plesitocene, these separated populations began to
spread once more, but with the long elapse of time that had taken place further evolution had
occurred giving rise to the willow [] and house sparrow (Summers-Smith 2010). The willow

sparrow adapted to the moist climates found in northwest Africa and southern Spain while the
house sparrow preferred arid habitats found in southeast Europe and the Middle East (SummersSmith 2010). Association of house sparrow with man occurred 10,000 years ago during the
Fertile Cresent in the Tigris-Euphrates valley of Mesopotamia (Summers-Smith 2010). During
this time the passerines underwent more adaptive radiation, leading to even more species.
Beak morphology appears to be a trait that often exhibits high levels of radiative
adaptation as seen through Darwins study of finches. The avian beak rapidly changes in
response to ecological condition, such as food type, food availability, and interspecific
competition (Riyahi 2013). Passeridae were adapted for their granivorous diet. Their bills are
stubby and powerful in order to open seeds. They also adapted an extra bone in their tongue
called the preglossale which helps the bird stiffen its tongue while holding seeds (Wikipedia).
Their alimentary canals are also specialized for seed predation (Wikipedia).
One study done by BMC Evolutionary Biology researched the beak and skull shapes of
house sparrows in relation to their dependence on human. They studied the difference between
subspecies P. d. bactrianus, a non-commensal sparrow, found in ancestral habitats like pastures
and grasslands and four commensal subspecies P.d. biblicus, P.d. persicus, P.d. hyrcanus, and
P.d. indicus found in urban and suburban developments (Riyahi 2013). P. d. bactrianus also kept
the ancestral act of migration versus the commensal species who are non-migratory (Riyahi
2013). The four commensal subspecies who foraged on cultivated grain of human were found to
have more robust muscle, jaw, and beak architecture than P. d. bactrianus. This adaptation can
be contributed to the larger and tougher domesticated seeds versus the wild grass seed size. Skull
sizes of P.d. biblicus, P.d. persicus, P.d. hyrcanus, and P.d. indicus were also found to be larger
than the migratory P. d. bactrianus. Abandonment of migratory behavior may have facilitated an

increase in skull size since the commensal species are less dependent on endured flight (Riyahi
2013).
The family Passeridae is not confounded to one single niche. They fall under ground
foraging, insect eating, and domestic guilds. The house sparrow is a strong representative species
of the family Passeridae. P. domesticus live in close association with man. It relies heavily on
domestic grain and urban environments for its food demands and habitat (Clements 1993). Many
species of the family Passeridae behave much like the house sparrow and in its absence will
occupy its niche in urban and suburban areas, i.e. P. hispaniolensis, P. castanopterus, P. rutilans,
P. motitensis. P. iagoensis, P. sawinsonii, (Clements 1993). However only when Passer
domesticus is absent can these other species live in the developed area. This is due to P.
domesticus very aggressive nature. It is known to take over the nests of other birds and kill their
eggs, having a negative impact on the population of many other bird species (Camfield 2004).
Meanwhile sparrows like P. montanus fills an insect eating niche in its habitat (Clements
1993). These Passeridae have an influence on insect population. Many other species under
Passeridae feed on small insects during breeding season in order to attract a mate and often as
juveniles to put on weight (Wikipedia). Species like P. ammodendri, P. melanurus. P. griseus are
ground foraging seed predator (Clements 1993). A large ecological role of their niche is to act as
seed dispersal agents. An ecological role that all Passeridae share in common is a food source for
other animals like hawks, owls, domestic cats, raccoons, and snakes (Camfield 2004).
Passeridae is a highly successful family. Unlike many other species of the world
Passeridae has been successful with their evolution with humans. They are flexible in their
nature, being able to able to exploit a wide range of environments, an omnivorous diet, and its

adaptability to a large range of circumstances. These characteristics of the family Passeridae will
ensure its continue survival in todays world.

Literature Cited
Anon. 2001. Aves. Retrieved 25 February 2016 from Animal Diversity Web.
http://www.birds.com/species/classifications/
Camfield, Alaine. 2004. Passeridae. Retrieved 23 February 2016 from Animal Diversity Web.
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Passeridae/
Clement, Peter. 1993. Finches and Sparrow. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey.
500pp.
Kelly, Jasey. N.D. What Kind of Habitat do Sparrows Live In? Retrieved 23 February 2016
from Demand Media. http://animals.mom.me/kind-habitat-sparrows-live-in2591.html
Scott, Graham. 2010. Essential Ornithology. Oxford. New York. 162pp. (142.144.107.144.106)
Summers-Smith, J. Denis. 2010. The Sparrows. A&C Black Publishers LTD. London. England.
341pp.
Wikipedia. N.D. Sparrow. Retrieved 23 February 2016 from Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparrow
Riyahi, S., Hammer, O., Arbabi T., Sanchez A., Roselaar, C., Aliabadian, M., Saetre, G., 2013.
Beak and skull shapes of human commensal and non-commensal
house sparrows Passer domesticus. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 13:200, 1-8.

Extra Credit Synopsis

A study done by BMC Evolutionary Biology tested the beak and skull shapes of human
commensal and non-commensal house sparrows. The goal of the study was to find differences in
beak and skull shape of P. d. bactrianus, a non-commensal house sparrows and commensal
sparrows: P.d. biblicus, P.d. persicus, P.d. hyrcanus, and P.d. indicus. They tested their
hypothesis by collecting 101 adult house sparrow skulls from 16 populations in Iran. They
performed outline analysis by taking pictures using an Olympus DP71i camera connected to an
Olympus BX51 stereomicroscope at the same distance and 90 angle. Through statistical
analysis it was discovered that there was a significant difference in overall size and trajectory
allometry between commensal and non-commensal house sparrow species supporting their
hypothesis that commensal house sparrows have more robust beaks and skulls and elongated
cranium and pointed beak than their closely related non-commensal house sparrow.

Literature Cited
Riyahi, S., Hammer, O., Arbabi T., Sanchez A., Roselaar, C., Aliabadian, M., Saetre, G., 2013.
Beak and skull shapes of human commensal and non-commensal house sparrows Passer
domesticus. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 13:200, 1-8.