Differences between Sparrow and Thrush

Sparrow and Thrush are two classes of birds that belong to the Passeridae and Turdidae families respectively.

Sparrows are one of the most commonly found birds in the world. They are petite birds with a round head and small beak that is shaped like a cone. Their plumage is either brown or grey with white streaks. The feather on their belly is usually white. The birds have a long and stiff tail. An interesting fact about Sparrows is that they have a bone in their tongue. As these are perching birds, they have clawed feet with three forward-pointing and one backward-pointing toe. Sparrows are songbirds that make chirping sounds. There are over 140 species of these birds in the world. They are generally classified as Old World species and New World species. Sparrows are mentioned in mythology and the Bible. Their earliest fossils, found in caves in Israel, are dated back to over 100,000 years.

Thrush is a small and stout song bird. It has a large round head, pointed bill, short tail, and soft plumage. Its eyes are usually large with eye rings. The legs are long and sturdy, while the toes are flexible for perching. The bird’s skin is generally reddish brown on the back and white on the belly with spots or stripes. The color varies for different species. There are about 170 species of Thrushes. Wood Thrush, Blackbird, American Robin, Song Thrush, Ground Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and Himalayan Forest Thrush are some of them.

Where are Sparrow and Thrush found?

Sparrows prefer thick forests, open fields, agricultural farms, and fringes of forests. However, a large population of Sparrows also live in the parks, gardens, and buildings of cities. The Old World species of Sparrows originally belong to Asia, Africa, and Europe. The New World species have been introduced in North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Thrushes live in forests and places with tall trees, damp soil, foliage filled grounds, and streams. They also live near human dwellings provided there are tall trees, vegetation, and water sources in the vicinity. Thrushes can be found in North Africa, southern Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Canada, and parts of America.

What do Sparrow and Thrush eat?

Sparrows are omnivores. They largely eat seeds and grains like cereals, wheat, rice, oats, and corn. They also eat insects and worms. Occasionally the birds eat human food refuse.

Thrushes are omnivorous birds. They hop and run looking for food on the ground. They eat snails, earthworms, grasshoppers, spiders, beetles, wasps, slugs, larvae, insects, invertebrates, fruits, and cherries.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Sparrow and Thrush

• Neither Sparrow nor Thrush eat Fish.
• Both Sparrow and Thrush eat Frogs.
• Both Sparrow and Thrush eat Lizards.
• Neither Sparrow nor Thrush eat Snakes.
• Neither Sparrow nor Thrush eat Turtles.
• Neither Sparrow nor Thrush eat Squirrels.
• Sparrow and Thrush do not eat Gophers.
• Both Sparrow and Thrush do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Mice are not eaten by both Sparrow and Thrush.

Size of Sparrow and Thrush?

When it comes to size, The size of Sparrows depends on the species. The average size is however 0.5-0.6 feet in length. Chestnut Sparrow is the smallest Sparrow with a length of 0.4 feet, while the Parrot-billed Sparrow is the largest with a length of 0.59 feet.. Depending on the species, Thrushes are five to 12 inches long with a wingspan of 12-16 inches. Mistle Thrush is one of the largest Thrush species. It is 11.41 inches long.

The average weight of the Sparrow is 0.84 ounce. The weight of the Chestnut Sparrow is 0.5 ounce and that of the Parrot-billed Sparrow is 1.5 ounce. while The average weight of Thrushes is 1.52 ounces. Song Thrush is one of the heaviest among Thrush species. It weighs 1.76-3.77 ounces.

Where do Sparrow and Thrush nest?

Sparrows build their nests in holes and cavities of small trees, in shrubs, and buildings. They prefer their nests to be closer to the ground. The nests generally look spherical and measure eight to 10 inches in diameter. The female and male partners construct the nest using straw, twigs, roots, leaves, grass, paper, thread, wool, and feather. The eggs are completely white, or bluish white, or greenish white with brown spots. Both partners incubate the eggs. The eggs hatch in 10-14 days. The young ones that are fed by both parents fledge in about two weeks.

Thrushes build their nests in trees and bushes, sometimes even on the ground or below shrubs and tall trees. The nests are meticulously constructed with sticks, grass, leaves, and moss. The materials are neatly bound using dung or mud to create perfect structures. It is usually the female Thrush that builds the nest. She takes about three weeks to complete the task. The nest are used for multiple broods. Thrush eggs are glossy blue with a smooth texture. The eggs of few species could have brown speckles. The mother bird incubates the eggs for about two weeks, after which they hatch. The responsibility of feeding the young ones is shared between the parents. The chicks are ready to fledge when they are two weeks old.

How long do Sparrow and Thrush live?

Sparrows are known to live for four to seven years. Some species can even live up to 20 years. The House Sparrows live until 23 years in captivity.

The average lifespan of Thrushes is two to 12 years. American Robin has the shortest life expectancy of two years, while Wood Thrush is known to have the longest lifespan of eight years. The longest-lived Thrush bird was a Swainson’s Thrush. It was 12 years and one month old when it was caught for banding in 2006 in Montana, USA.

Are Sparrow or Thrush migratory birds?

Not all Sparrows are migratory. The ones from Canada, North America, northern parts of Europe, and east Asia migrate during winters. The House Sparrows typically do not migrate as they do not encounter harsh weather or scarcity of food in any time of the year. Among the migratory species, American Tree Sparrow migrates from North America and Canada to the USA, while the Savannah Sparrow travels from Alaska to the USA. In northern and central Europe, migration takes place among Eurasian Tree Sparrow that relocates to Africa. The Russet Sparrow is a species from Himalayas that spends its time in south-east Asia during winters.

Majority of Thrush species are migratory. Some species like Wood Thrush migrate twice a year. Birds of this species travel long distances, crossing the Gulf of Mexico in one night. Redwing Thrush migrates southward from the east coast of UK. Some species from Scandinavia travel to the UK, while some of them relocate from UK to Spain and north Africa. In America, the species living in coasts move towards Mexico and Central America in winters. Thrush species living in inlands will spend the winter in South America. Thrushes from northeast Europe migrate to north and south Africa. Asian species such as Eyebrowed Thrush migrate from China, Japan, and Korea to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. The Himalayan Thrush relocates from the Himalayas during winters to the western ghats in India.

Do Sparrow and Thrush fly in flocks?

A group of Sparrows is called a flock. The birds are highly sociable. They live in colonies of about 20 birds, which may even extend to about a 100. The birds are always found in groups, foraging, flying, and roosting together. Their nests are also built next to each other during the breeding season. Sparrows are also intelligent birds. They are known for cooperation and teamwork. The birds work together to find food, build nests, preen feathers, and remove lice and parasites from their skin. They chirp incessantly to let their group know about where they are. As Sparrows are tiny birds, living in large flocks also helps in intimidating the predator and also mobbing the predator if required.

A group of Thrushes is known as mutation. Most species are predominantly solitary birds. They may form small groups of 50 for roosting and feeding if there is abundant food in the vicinity. Some species may forage with their family in summers. However, Thrushes are highly territorial in nature, defending their territories year after year.

Are Sparrow or Thrush protected?

Not all species of Sparrows are protected. For example, the House Sparrow is not protected in the USA. It has partial protection in the UK, where shooting it with a licence is allowed. The species is fully protected in Canada.

Thrushes are protected in some parts of the world, such as the UK, France, Canada, India, and Australia. Killing or capturing them is against the law in these countries.

Are Sparrow or Thrush endangered?

Sparrows are not endangered but their numbers are on a steep decline. Factors affecting the population of Sparrows are loss of habitat, scarcity of food, urbanization, radiation from mobile towers, pollution, use of pesticides in farmlands, and hunting.

Thrushes are largely not endangered birds. However, Taita Thrush is a species that is listed as endangered. A very small population of them exist in Kenya. Principe Thrush is another endangered species that is endemic to Principe, Italy. Spotted Ground Thrush is also considered to be endangered. Meanwhile, the population of certain species like Song Thrush, Bicknell’s Thrush, Tickell’s Thrush, and Laughing Thrush is reducing drastically due to scarcity of food, loss of habitat, and predator threats. Grand Cayman Thrush, Bonin Thrush, and Kamao Thrush are the extinct species.

Can Sparrow and Thrush fly?

Sparrows fly by taking off directly, flapping their wings, and folding their legs. Their average flying speed is 24-31 miles an hour. The altitude range they can fly at varies for different species. While most of them normally fly at around 500 feet, some fly at around 2,000 feet. During migration they fly 5,000-20,000 feet high and cover 15-600 miles in a day. Sparrows fly in flocks because they are tiny birds and flying in groups supports energy conservation. It will also help them spot and threaten predators. On the ground, Sparrows are commonly seen hopping. They jump forward and backward for scraping mud, leaves, or grass with their toes and search for food underneath.

Thrushes are amazing avian birds. They have sprawling wingspan for excellent aerodynamics. The birds spread out their wings and tail, and tuck in their legs during flight. The flying speed of Thrushes depends on the species. The average speed is 30-50 miles an hour. Most species fly long distances during migration. Wood Thrushes travel over 2,000 miles on a single way, covering more than 311 miles in a day.

Can Sparrow and Thrush swim?

Sparrows are not regular swimmers. However, they can swim fast to escape from danger. Some species like the House Sparrow can even swim under water. Sparrows regularly bathe in water, sometimes even in a puddle. They wiggle in water to loosen up the dirt on their feathers and to control body temperature.

Thrushes are not water birds. They have clawed feet for perching. The birds are not known to swim. They bathe in small puddles.

Mating patterns among Sparrow and Thrush

Depending on the species, Sparrows start mating when they are five to nine months old. The birds mate in small colonies. During courtship, the male hops around the female with inflated chest, raised tail, and slouched wings. He also chirps and sings for her. The partners copulate until the female can lay eggs. They produce nearly four broods in a breeding season. The female lays one to eight eggs in a clutch. Both partners incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.

Thrushes attain sexual maturity when they are one to two years old, subject to the type of species. At the arrival of the mating season, the male bird chooses a breeding site. He perches there, singing loudly to attract a mate. When the female favors a male and the nesting site he has chosen, she engages in courtship. The partners fly, sing, and feed together while perching intermittently. The female Thrush lays three to five eggs in a clutch, one egg each day. Some species may have more than one brood in a year. While the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, she gets the support of the male in feeding the young ones.

When is the mating season for Sparrow and Thrush ?

The mating season for sparrows depends on geography. It can range from March to August. The courtship can begin as early as January.

The mating season for Thrushes occurs differently based on the species and geography. The duration is usually March-August.

Do Sparrow and Thrush mate for life?

Sparrows mate for life. They remain monogamous throughout their life and return to the same nesting territory every year. When one of the partners is lost or dies, the surviving partner finds another mate within a few days.

Thrushes are monogamous for the particular breeding season. Most birds stay loyal during the period. However, extra-pair copulation has been observed.

How do Sparrow and Thrush sleep?

Sparrows roost in large groups while perching on trees. They may even shelter inside tree holes and cavities. They draw together to stay warm on cold nights. Their usual sleeping posture is head tucked inside plumped up feathers.

Thrushes are not sociable birds. They do not often roost in groups. They prefer to sleep amidst dense vegetation. During the breeding season, female birds usually sleep at the nest.

Can Sparrow and Thrush be eaten?

Sparrows are widely consumed by people. They are a delicacy in French, Italian, Japanese, and German cuisines. As the law in most countries provide protection only to some species of Sparrows, obtaining the bird meat for food is not restricted.

The meat of Thrush birds was commonly consumed in Europe in earlier years. Thrush meat cuisines from Italy, France, Ireland, and Belgium are documented. However, the birds are not widely eaten in modern times.

Can you hunt Sparrow or Thrush?

Sparrows are hunted for their meat. They are considered a pest by farmers, who kill them to save their crops. Hunting Sparrows is allowed in some countries, while killing them with a licence is permitted in few others.

Thrushes are hunted for sport or caught with nets in several parts of the world. There are not adequate laws to protect the birds. Countries like France, USA, and Canada prohibit hunting of these birds.

Can you feed Sparrow or Thrush?

Sparrows can be fed with a mix of seeds, corn, millets, fruits, and insects.

People in Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, and USA are known to have feeding stations at their backyards and gardens to attract birds like Thrush. Thrush species are offered cherries, worms, soaked raisins, corn, and fruits.