In Italy and the Mediterranean region, the house sparrows are sometimes considered a different species, the
Italian sparrow Passer italiae, also known as the Cisalpine sparrow. There is great taxonomic confusion over this species. Some consider it a hybrid of the house sparrow and Spanish sparrow, others consider it a subspecies of the house sparrow (
Passer domesticus italiae), still others consider it a species in its own right, and yet others consider it a subspecies of the Spanish sparrow (
Passer hispaniolensis italiae). Whatever you think about its status as a species, here are some photos of them!
A male Italian sparrow on a bridge in Florence
Another male Italian sparrow, in the Villa Borghese park of Rome
Yet another male Italian sparrow, in the gardens of the Parco de Princippi Grande Hotel
Another male Italian sparrow, in the exact same place
A female Italian sparrow, in the same gardens
A flock of Italian sparrows at the Villa Borghese, as well as a feral pigeon on the left.
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