One of many species of small singing birds of the family
Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also
finches, and
buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (
Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See
House sparrow, under
House. [
1913 Webster]
" The following American species are well known; the chipping sparrow, or chippy, the sage sparrow, the savanna sparrow, the song sparrow, the tree sparrow, and the white-throated sparrow (see Peabody bird). See these terms under Sage, Savanna, etc."
[1913 Webster]