Editing Spanish sparrow (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Passer hispaniolensis -Canary Islands, Spain -female-8 (1).jpg|thumb|Female in the Canary Islands (Note the streaked breast)]]
The Spanish sparrow is a rather large sparrow, at {{convert|15|–|16|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}} in length, and {{convert|22|–|36|g|oz|abbr=on}} in weight. It is slightly larger and heavier than house sparrows, and also has a slightly longer and stouter bill.<ref name=bwp/> The male is similar to the house sparrow in plumage, but differs in that its underparts are heavily streaked with black, has a [[chestnut (color)|chestnut]] rather than grey crown, and has white rather than grey cheeks.<ref>{{harvnb|Clement|Harris|Davis|1993|pp=446–447}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Shelley|1902|pp=235–237}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Dresser|1902|p=291}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Moineaux domestiques et Moineaux espagnols, ''Passer domesticus'' et ''P. hispaniolensis'', dans une région de l'ouest algérien : analyse comparative de leur morphologie externe|journal=Le Gerfaut |year=1986|author=Metzmacher, M.|volume=76|pages=317–334|language=fr, en}}</ref> The female is effectively inseparable from the house sparrow in its basic plumage, which is grey-brown overall but more boldly marked. The female has light streaking on its sides, a pale cream [[supercilium]], and broad cream streaks on its back.<ref name="Summers164–165"/><ref>{{harvnb|Oates|1890|p=239}}</ref>

Two subspecies of the Spanish sparrow – the '''western Spanish sparrow''' (''P. h. hispaniolensis'') and '''eastern Spanish sparrow''' (''P. h. transcaspicus'') – are recognised, with little visible difference between them in worn breeding plumage. They are more easily distinguished in fresh winter plumage, with the eastern subspecies ''P. h. transcaspicus'' being paler with less chestnut.<ref name="Summers164–165">{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988| pp=164–165}}</ref>

<gallery mode = packed heights = 180px>
Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) male breeding plumage ringed Malta.jpg|ringed male (breeding plumage) in Malta
Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) female ringed Malta.jpg|ringed female in Malta
</gallery>

=== Voice ===
[[File:Passer hispaniolensis song algeria.jpg|thumb|right|Sonogram of a male Spanish sparrow's song]]
The Spanish sparrow's [[Bird vocalization|vocalisations]] are similar to those of the house sparrow. The male gives a call somewhat different from that of the house sparrow when displaying at its nest. This call is a pair of strident, disyllabic chirps, similar to those of the house sparrow, but louder and high-pitched, transcribed as ''{{not a typo|chweeng-chweeng, cheela-cheeli}}''. A similar call, softer and more like the house sparrow's ''{{not a typo|tschilp}}'', is used by birds arriving or departing at roosting sites. The Spanish sparrow's other calls are almost the same as those of the house sparrow. A soft ''{{not a typo|quer quer quer}}'' is given at the nest by mated pairs, a ''{{not a typo|quer-it}}'' [[flight call]] is given by flocking birds, and a ''{{not a typo|chur-chur-it}}'' call is given as a threat.<ref name="Summers177">{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988| p=177}}</ref>