What is the scientific name for the common house sparrow?

The scientific name for the common house sparrow is Passer domesticus.

The name combines the genus Passer with domesticus, a Latin word meaning “of the household” or “belonging to the home.” That name reflects the species’ close association with human settlements. House sparrows commonly nest around buildings, forage near roads and markets, and take advantage of food left by people.

Carl Linnaeus described the bird in the 1758 tenth edition of Systema Naturae, the landmark work that helped establish modern biological naming. Linnaeus initially placed it in the genus Fringilla, but it was later moved to Passer. The species is native across much of Europe, the Mediterranean region and Asia, and has been introduced to many other parts of the world.

A frequent mix-up is confusing the house sparrow with the Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus. They are related, but the house sparrow is generally identified by the male’s gray crown and black bib, while the tree sparrow has a chestnut crown and a black cheek spot.