russet sparrow

The English ornithologist John Gould described a specimen of the russet sparrow collected in the Himalayas at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London in December 1835 under the binomial name Pyrgita cinnamomea. His description was included in the volume of the society's proceedings for 1835 that was published on 8 April 1836.{{cite journal | last=Gould | first=J. | author-link=John Gould | year=1836 | title=Characters of several new species of Insessorial Birds, including a new genus (Stenorhynchus) | journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London | issue=36 | pages=185–187 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30568694 }} Dated 1835 on the title page but published in 1836.{{ cite journal | last=Sclater | first=P. L. | author-link=Philip Sclater | year=1893 | title=List of the dates of delivery of the sheets of the 'Proceedings' of the Zoological Society of London, from the commencement in 1830 to 1859 inclusive | journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London | volume= | pages=436–440 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35992700 }}{{ cite journal | last=Mlíkovský | first=J. | year=2011 | title=Correct name for the Asian Russet Sparrow | journal=Chinese Birds | volume=2 | issue=2 | pages=109–110 | doi=10.5122/cbirds.2011.0016 | doi-access=free | bibcode=2011AvRes...2..109M }} Its specific name comes from the Neo-Latin {{Lang|la|cinnamomeus}}, "cinnamon-coloured".{{harvnb|Jobling|2009|p=108}} The russet sparrow was described as Fringilla rutilans, by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck, from a specimen collected in Japan.{{ cite book | last=Temminck | first=Coenraad Jacob | author-link=Coenraad Jacob Temminck | year=1838 | title=Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon | volume=3 | at=Plate 588, Fig. 2| publisher=F.G. Levrault | place=Paris | language=fr | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36705068 }} The 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 parts, 1820-1839 Temminck's description is contained in his Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux which was issued in 102 livraisons or parts between 1820 and 1839. It was at one time believed that the livraison containing the description of the russet sparrow was issued in 1835 but it has now been established that it appeared sometime in 1836 but as the precise date is not known under the rules of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature it is deemed to have been published on 31 December 1836.{{ cite journal | last=Dickinson | first=E. C. | author-link=Edward C. Dickinson | year=2001 | title=Systematic notes on Asian birds. 9. The Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées of Temminck & Laugier (1820–1839) | journal=Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden | volume=335 | pages=7–53 | url=http://repository.naturalis.nl/document/46425 }} Most taxonomists give priority to Gould's publication and use the binomial name Passer cinnamomeus for the russet sparrow.{{cite journal | last=Summers-Smith | first=D. | year=2020 | title=Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) | editor1-last=del Hoyo | editor1-first=J. | editor2-last=Elliott | editor2-first=A. | editor3-last=Sargatal | editor3-first=J. | editor4-last=Christie | editor4-first=D. A. | editor5-last=de Juana | editor5-first=E. | journal=Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive | publisher=Lynx Edicions | doi=10.2173/bow.russpa2.01 | s2cid=216264691 | url=http://www.hbw.com/node/60930 | access-date=28 September 2017 |url-access=subscription }}{{ cite book | editor-last1=Dickinson | editor-first1=E. C. | editor1-link=Edward C. Dickinson | editor-last2=Christidis | editor-first2=L. | editor2-link=Leslie Christidis | year=2014 | title=The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 2: Passerines | edition=4th | place=Eastbourne, UK | publisher=Aves Press | isbn=978-0-9568611-2-2 | page=305 }}{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | year=2017 | title=Old World sparrows, snowfinches, weavers | work=World Bird List Version 8.1 | url=http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/weavers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=1 February 2018 }}

The russet sparrow has usually been placed in the genus Passer, and within this genus it is seen as a part of the "Palearctic black-bibbed sparrow" group, which includes the Eurasian tree sparrow as well as the house sparrow. It has generally been seen as a close relation of the house sparrow, and Richard Meinertzhagen even considered it to be the same species as the Somali sparrow, one of the house sparrow's closest relatives.{{cite journal|last=Meinertzhagen|first=R.|year=1951|title=Some relationships between African, Oriental, and Palearctic genera and species, with a review of the genus Monticola|journal=The Ibis|volume=93|issue=3|pages=443–459|doi=10.1111/j.1474-919X.1951.tb05445.x}}

However, studies of mitochondrial DNA indicate that the russet sparrow is an early offshoot or basal species among the Palearctic black-bibbed sparrows.{{cite journal|last=Allende|first= Luis M.|author2=Rubio, Isabel |author3=Ruíz-del-Valle, Valentin |author4=Guillén, Jesus |author5=Martínez-Laso, Jorge |author6=Lowy, Ernesto |author7=Varela, Pilar |author8=Zamora, Jorge |author9= Arnaiz-Villena, Antonio | year= 2001 | title= The Old World sparrows (genus Passer) phylogeography and their relative abundance of nuclear mtDNA pseudogenes | journal= Journal of Molecular Evolution | volume=53| pmid= 11479685 | pages= 144–154| url = http://chopo.pntic.mec.es/~biolmol/publicaciones/Passer.pdf | issue= 2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721034443/http://chopo.pntic.mec.es/~biolmol/publicaciones/Passer.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2011|doi=10.1007/s002390010202|bibcode= 2001JMolE..53..144A|citeseerx= 10.1.1.520.4878|s2cid= 21782750}}{{cite conference |author1=González, Javier |author2=Siow, Melanie |author3=Garcia-del-Rey, Eduardo |author4=Delgado, Guillermo |author5=Wink, Michael |title=Phylogenetic relationships of the Cape Verde Sparrow based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA |conference=Systematics 2008, Göttingen |year=2008 |url=http://www.avescanarias.com/pdfs/CO%20Garcia-del-Rey%20POSTER%20(PASIAG).pdf |archive-date=7 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707192833/http://www.avescanarias.com/pdfs/CO%20Garcia-del-Rey%20POSTER%20(PASIAG).pdf |url-status=usurped }} While mitochrondrial DNA suggests speciation in Passer occurred during the Miocene and Pliocene, British ornithologist J. Denis Summers-Smith estimated that the russet sparrow separated from the other Palearctic black-bibbed sparrows about 25,000 to 15,000 years ago, during the last glacial period. During this time, sparrows would have been isolated in ice-free refugia, such as the lower Yangtze valley, which Summers-Smith considered the most likely centre of evolution for the russet sparrow.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988| pp=279–280, 288–290}}

Thirteen subspecies have been described, but only three are widely recognised, these differing largely in the colour of their underparts.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|pp=206–210}} The subspecies Passer cinnamomea rutilans breeds in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and southeastern and central China. The subspecies intensior, described in 1922 by Walter Rothschild from Yunnan, breeds in southwest China and parts of India, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.{{harvnb|Rand|Fleming|1957| pp=200–201}}{{cite journal|last=Bangs|first=Outram|title=Types of Birds Now in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy|journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy|url=https://archive.org/stream/bulletinofmuseum70harv#page/416/mode/1up|volume=LXX|year=1930}} In a large part of Sichuan intensior intergrades with P. c. rutilans, and a number of subspecies names have been proposed for the intergrades. The nominate subspecies cinnamomeus, described by Gould from the northwestern Himalayas, breeds from northern Arunachal Pradesh to Nuristan in Afghanistan.

The russet sparrow is a small chunky bird, with plumage warm rufous in overall colour. It is a medium-sized sparrow at {{convert|14|to(-)|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} and {{convert|18|to(-)|22.5|g|oz}}.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|pp=205–206}}{{harvnb|Clement|Harris|Davis|1993|pp=450–451}} It has a thick bill suited to eating seeds, which is black on the breeding male, horn-coloured on the non-breeding male, and yellowish with a dark tip on the female. Wingspans for males range between {{convert|6.8|to(-)|8.2|cm|in|abbr=on}} and those for females from {{convert|6.7|to(-)|7.7|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Tail, bill, and tarsus lengths are {{convert|4.3|to(-)|5.1|cm|in|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1.1|to(-)|1.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and {{convert|1.6|to(-)|1.8|cm|in|abbr=on}}, respectively.

Measurements for the russet sparrow vary geographically, between the three subspecies, and also within the Himalayan subspecies cinnamomeus. The subspecies cinnamomeus is generally larger than the others, and within this form there is a tendency for birds at higher altitudes to be larger, and a clinal variation in size with the smallest birds in the west of the range and the largest in the east.

The iris is chestnut in colour.{{harvnb|Gee|Moffet|1917|p=210}} The legs of both sexes are pale brown to pinkish-brown.{{cite book|first=J. Denis|last=Summers-Smith|editor=del Hoyo, Josep|editor2=Elliott, Andrew|editor3=Christie, David|contribution=Family Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)|title=Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows|year=2009|location=Barcelona|publisher=Lynx Edicions|isbn=978-84-96553-50-7|title-link=Handbook of the Birds of the World}} The flight of all sparrows is swift,{{harvnb|Clement|Harris|Davis|1993|p=4}} and that of the russet sparrow is described as swifter and more direct than that of the Eurasian tree sparrow.

File:Passer russatus Fauna Japonica.jpg from Fauna Japonica, in which the russet sparrow was described with the now synonymised name Passer russatus]]

The sexes differ, or are dimorphic, in their plumage, and have a similar pattern to that in the corresponding sex of house sparrow. There is some variation between the three subspecies, especially in the colouration of the underparts. Birds of the subspecies rutilans are off-white on their cheeks and the sides of their necks, and have pale grey underparts. Birds of the subspecies intensior have a pale yellow wash on their underparts and cheeks, as well as darker upperparts, while those of the subspecies cinnamomeus have a heavy yellow tinge to their underparts.{{Cite journal|last=Vaurie|first=Charles|author2=Koelz, Walter | title = Notes on some Ploceidae from western Asia | journal = American Museum Novitates | issue =1406|pages=1–41|year=1949|hdl=2246/2345}}

Moult is poorly recorded, the only records coming from Sakhalin and Himachal Pradesh. In Sakhalin, moult occurs in August and September, between the breeding season and migration. In Himachal Pradesh, aviculturalist G. A. Perreau observed captive and wild birds and reported that they were yellow from December to spring and whitish during the remainder of the year, a pattern which may be atypical.{{cite journal|last=Perreau|first=G. A.|year=1910|title=Change of Plumage in the Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus)|journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society|volume=XIX|issue=4|pages=986–988|url=https://archive.org/stream/JBNHS19_4#page/n212/mode/1up}}{{cite journal|last=Perreau|first=G. A.|date=May 1909|title=The Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow|journal=The Avicultural Magazine|series=new series|volume=VII|issue=7|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32659819|pages=201–205}}{{cite journal|last= Teschemaker|first=W. E.|date=May 1909|title=On the Nesting of the Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow|journal=The Avicultural Magazine|series=new series|volume=VII|issue=7|pages=205–208|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32659823}}

The breeding male is bright russet or cinnamon red on its upperparts from its crown to its rump, with a black streaking on its mantle. It has a small black bib and black around its eye, separated from the russet of its crown by a very thin white supercilium, a stripe running from the bill to the rear of the head. The side of its neck and cheek are off-white, and its underparts are pale grey or washed with yellow, varying geographically. Shoulders and greater coverts are chestnut, and its median coverts are black at the base with white at the tips. The rest of the wing is light brown with black tinges.{{harvnb|Jerdon|1863|p=365}} Its tail is blackish brown, edged with ashy brown. The non-breeding male differs little from the breeding male,{{harvnb|Oates|1890| p=241}} being paler with more orange upperparts. The only species with which the male is easily confused is the Eurasian tree sparrow, which differs in its black cheek spot and brown back.{{harvnb|Flint|Boehme|Kostin|Kuznetsov|1984|pp=295–296}}

The female has mostly pale brown upperparts, and pale grey underparts, so it resembles the female house sparrow. It differs from the house sparrow in its slightly darker, russet-tinged plumage. It has a conspicuous cream supercilium from above its eye nearly around its head, and a bold dark brown stripe through its eye. It has mostly greyish brown wings and a back streaked with black and buff. The juvenile is similar to the female, though more pale and sandy. As the male reaches its first winter, it resembles the adult, differing in less bold chestnut and a dusky bib.

The russet sparrow's vocalisations are described by most sources as "the sweetest and most musical" of any sparrow. Its basic call is a {{not a typo|cheep}} or {{not a typo|chilp}}, similar to that of other sparrows. This call is monosyllabic, unlike the house sparrow's chirrup call, and is softer than that of the other sparrows. This call is given as a flight call, or by displaying males. Recorded variations include a {{not a typo|chweep}} given by males at the nest and a trilled {{not a typo|cheeep}}. Sometimes the male strings calls together and sings them in a strident tone, to create a sort of short song, transcribed as {{not a typo|cheep chirrup cheeweep}} or {{not a typo|chreet-chreet-chreet}}. The song is interspersed with sibilant {{not a typo|chu-swik}} notes similar to those of the white wagtail.{{harvnb|Ali|Ripley|1999|pp=78–79}} A thin {{not a typo|swee swee}} vocalisation not unlike that of an Indian robin has been reported, but the context of this call is unrecorded. During territorial disputes, males give a rapid {{not a typo|chit-chit-chit}} call.

File:Russet Sparow (Male) I2 IMG 3258.jpg, India]]

File:Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans) (26845730577).jpg, Pakistan]]

The russet sparrow is found in parts of eastern Asia and in the Himalayas. It is not known whether its distribution is continuous between these two areas, since the political sensitivity of the Brahmaputra River's valley near the China-India border makes the area less accessible to ornithologists. In the Himalayas the russet sparrow breeds from the far northeast of India through southeastern Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh to Kashmir and Nuristan in Afghanistan. Here, the russet sparrow makes short movements to lower altitudes between November and April in many areas.

In eastern Asia, the russet sparrow is found in Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, a small part of mainland Russia, Japan, southern Korea, and part of northern China, where it is mostly migratory. It is distributed through southern China and Taiwan, and the mountainous parts of Burma, southern Northeast India, Laos, and Vietnam, where it is mostly resident.

The russet sparrow also occurs as a winter visitor in southern Japan, the further south of China, and northern Thailand.{{harvnb|Robson|2004|p=125}} In eastern Asia, the autumn migration occurs between August and November.

The russet sparrow appears to be abundant in most habitats across most of its very large range, and in some areas it is among the most common birds.{{harvnb|Roberts|1992| pp=480–481}}{{cite journal|last=Fujimaki|first=Yuzo|year=1988|title=Breeding Bird Community of a Quercus mongolica Forest in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan|journal=Japanese Journal of Ornithology|volume=37|issue=2|pages=69–75|doi=10.3838/jjo.37.69|doi-access=free}}{{cite journal|last=Fujimaki|first=Yuzo|year=1986|title=Breeding Bird Community in a Deciduous Broad-leaved Forest in Southern Hokkaido, Japan|journal=Japanese Journal of Ornithology|volume=35|issue=1|pages=15–23|doi=10.3838/jjo.35.15|doi-access=free}} In Southeast Asia, its range has contracted at lower elevations due to global warming, but it has also moved higher at high elevations and it remains common.{{cite journal|last=Peh|first=Kelvin S.-H.|year=2007|title=Potential Effects of Climate Change on Elevational Distributions of Tropical Birds in Southeast Asia|journal=The Condor|volume=109|issue=2|pages=437–441|doi=10.1650/0010-5422(2007)109[437:PEOCCO]2.0.CO;2|s2cid=85182744 |url=https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/353701/1/Effects%2520of%2520climate%2520change%2520on%2520tropical%2520birds.pdf}} Although its global population has not been quantified, it is assessed for the IUCN Red List as least concern for global extinction.

Breeding takes place in mountains and uplands across most of the range. This preference for high altitudes is influenced by latitude: in the farthest south of its range it never breeds below {{convert|2500|m|ft}} above mean sea level, but in the northernmost part of its range it often breeds by the sea. In eastern Asia, the russet sparrow prefers light woodland, but it is sometimes found in towns and agricultural areas.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|pp=210–211}} In Sakhalin, it breeds mostly in riparian forest. In Hokkaidō, the russet sparrow finds a greater food supply for its young in more remote forests, and has greater reproductive success.{{cite journal|last=Chae|first=Hee-Young|year=1997|title=Variations in Fledging Body Weight and Wing Length of Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans in Two Different Habitats|journal=Japanese Journal of Ornithology|volume=45|pages=215–225|issue=4|doi=10.3838/jjo.45.215|doi-access=free}}

In the Himalayas, it is strongly associated with terrace cultivation, and it probably only spread to the Himalayas when these agricultural practices arrived 3000 to 4000 years ago.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|pp=214–215}} In towns where it occurs alongside the house or tree sparrow, it is found in gardens and less built up areas. In those hill stations in India where both the house and the russet sparrow occur, the house sparrow breeds around more-built up areas and bazaars, whereas the russet sparrow is "rather more up market at the larger houses with gardens and open spaces".{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1992|pp=100–103}} In towns where it is the only sparrow, it is not dependent on trees, breeding around houses and eating scraps in streets. In the winter, migratory birds occur in open cultivated land and riverine grasslands, but are never far from shrubs or trees.

File:Passer rutilans (male eating Prunus × yedoensis s3).JPG blossoms, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan]]

In many aspects of its behaviour, the russet sparrow is similar to the house and Eurasian tree sparrows. Like them, it feeds on the ground, but spends most of its time perching on branches. Unlike those species, it prefers open, exposed branches for perching. The russet sparrow is described as shy and wary by some observers, but J. Denis Summers-Smith found it approachable in Indian hill stations. Flocking russet sparrows feed close to the ground, moving forward as birds from the rear of a flock move to the front, in what is called "roller feeding".

Outside its breeding season, the russet sparrow is gregarious and forms flocks to find food, though it infrequently associates with other birds. Wintering flocks tend to keep away from human habitation. The russet sparrow is also social at night during the winter, and it forms large communal roosts in trees and bushes. In the breeding season, the female roosts in the nests and the male nests in foliage nearby.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|pp=211–212}}

The adult russet sparrow is mostly a seed-eater, eating the seeds of herbs and weeds as well as rice, barley, and other grains. Berries, such as those of the kingore (certain Berberis spp.), are also eaten when available. Nestlings are fed mostly on insects, especially caterpillars and larval beetles obtained on trees and flying insects caught by aerial pursuit. During the breeding season adults also consume insects.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|p=214}}{{cite journal |last=Chae |first=Hee-Young |title=Feeding Behavior of the Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans in Two Different Habitats |year=1997 |url=http://210.101.116.28/W_ftp42/0n100340_pv.pdf |journal=Korean Journal of Ecology |volume=20 |issue=6 |pages=405–411 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026052630/http://210.101.116.28/W_ftp42/0n100340_pv.pdf |archive-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Mortality rates in the russet sparrow have not been studied, but it is known that many young birds die from Isospora infections, to which the bird has little resistance.{{cite journal|author1=Tung, K. C. |author2=Liu, J. S. |author3=Cheng, F. P. |author4=Yang, C. H. |author5=Tu, W. C. |author6=Wang, K. S. |author7=Shyu, C. L. |author8=Lai, C. H. |author9=Chou, C. C. |author10=Lee, W. M. |title=Study on the species-specificity of Isospora michaelbakeri by experimental infection|journal=Acta Veterinaria Hungarica|year=2007|volume=55|issue=1|pmid=17385558|pages=77–85|doi=10.1556/AVet.55.2007.1.8}} Other recorded parasites of the russet sparrow include Protocalliphora blowflies,{{cite journal|last1=Hori|first1=Koji|first2=Mitsuhiro|last2=Isawa|first3=Ryu|last3=Ogawa|title=Biology of Two Species of the Protocalliphora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan: Feeding Behaviour of Larvae, Larval and Pupal Durations, Voltinism and Host Specificity|year=1990|volume=25|issue=4 |pages=475–482|url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110001104440 |journal=Applied Entomology and Zoology|doi=10.1303/aez.25.475|doi-access=free|bibcode=1990AppEZ..25..475H }}{{cite journal|journal=Applied Entomology and Zoology|volume=23|issue=3|year=1988|pages=298–303|title=Biology of Two Species of the Protocalliphora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan: Relationship between the Occurrence and Three Species of Host Birds|first1=Koji|last1=Hori|first2=Mitsuhiro|last2=Isawa|url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110001104262|doi=10.1303/aez.23.298|doi-access=free|bibcode=1988AppEZ..23..298H }} and Menacanthus chewing lice.{{cite journal|last=Price|first=Roger D.|title=The Menacanthus eurysternus Complex (Mallophaga: Menoponidae) of the Passeriformes and Piciformes (Aves)|journal=Annals of the Entomological Society of America|volume=68|issue=4|date=15 July 1975|pages=617–622|doi=10.1093/aesa/68.4.617}}

The russet sparrow's breeding season is short, lasting about three months. The Himalayan subspecies cinnamomeus has been recorded breeding from April to August, the nominate subspecies breeds from May to July, and the subspecies intensior is believed to breed in March. During its breeding season, the russet sparrow is not gregarious, and its nests are dispersed uniformly rather than clustered. Its nests are most frequently built in tree cavities, often disused woodpecker nests.{{harvnb|Summers-Smith|1988|pp=212–14}}{{cite journal|url=http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/osj/english/activities/ornith_science/ornsci1_1pdfs/os010202.pdf|title=Secondary users of Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) nest cavities in urban and suburban forests in Sapporo City, northern Japan|author1=Kotaka, Nobuhiko|author2=Matsuoka, Shigeru|year=2002|journal=Ornithological Science|volume=1|pages=117–122|doi=10.2326/osj.1.117|issue=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031130074314/http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/osj/english/activities/ornith_science/ornsci1_1pdfs/os010202.pdf|archive-date=30 November 2003|url-status=dead}} The russet sparrow has been recorded breeding alongside the Eurasian tree sparrow and white wagtail in black kite nests, taking advantage of the territorial defence of the kites to avoid nest predation.{{cite journal|author1=Takagi, Masaoki |author2=Takahashi, Mitsuhiko |title=Three passerine birds bred in the nests of black kites|url=http://www.wbsj.org/nature/public/strix/15/Strix15_16.pdf|journal=Strix|volume=15|pages=127–129|access-date=4 March 2010}} Other nest locations include the eaves of thatched roofs, stone walls and embankments, and electric junction boxes. In Bhutan, it nests in holes in the outer walls of monasteries, often alongside the Eurasian tree sparrow. In Sakhalin, it will sometimes build free-standing nests in bushes. The russet sparrow also uses the disused nests of the red-rumped swallow, and a pair of russet sparrows has been recorded attempting to oust a pair of black-crested tits from their nest.

The male chooses the nest site, and uses it for his courtship display, spending much time calling nearby. When a female comes near a male at his nest the male begins to display by raising his head, drooping his wings, pushing his chest forward, and lowering his tail. He then bows up and down in front of the female, who will lunge and then fly away if unreceptive. Both sexes take part in building the nest, which consists of a loose, untidy bunch of dry grass which fills the nesting cavity, lined with fur and feathers for warmth.{{harvnb|Hume|Oates|1890| pp=164–165}}

Eggs are elongated ovals, with a fine texture and a slight gloss. They are whitish in overall colour with a grey tinge and brown spots, streaks, or blotches.{{harvnb|Whistler|1949|p=229}} The average size of the egg is 19.2×14.2 millimetres (0.75×0.55 in).{{harvnb|Baker|1926|p=181}} Eggs are similar to those of the Eurasian tree sparrow, differing in a duller colour and more narrow shape, though they cannot be separated from those of the other sparrows with certainty.{{harvnb|Ogilvie-Grant|1912| pp=206–207}} Two clutches of four or sometimes five or six eggs are laid in a year. In Hokkaidō, clutches are laid between early May and early July, with two peaks in laying around mid May and late June. Both sexes incubate and feed the young, with the male often being more active in feeding the nestlings. In Hokkaidō, nestlings hatch weighing about {{convert|2|to|5|g|oz}}, and fledge 14 or 15 days after hatching, weighing {{convert|15|to|55|g|oz}}. The common cuckoo has been recorded in old literature as a brood parasite of the russet sparrow.{{cite web|last=Lowther|first=Peter E.|date=25 November 2009|title=Host list of avian brood parasites 2: Cuculiformes; Cuculidae|url=http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/aa/Files/lowther/OWcList.pdf|access-date=4 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144917/http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/aa/Files/lowther/OWcList.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-16|url-status=dead}}

File:Hibiscus and Sparrow.jpg, which portrays the russet sparrow|alt=An artwork with a red-capped and reddish-backed little bird flying beside the pink five-petalled blooms and dark green leaves of a hibiscus flower]]

In parts of the range, the russet sparrow inhabits towns, and in most of its range, it occurs near cultivation, and is a minor pest of agriculture. Though it damages crops, it also feeds its nestlings largely on insect pests. In China, the russet sparrow has been recorded as a captive bird, kept with the Eurasian tree sparrow.{{harvnb|Vaughan|Jones|1913|pp=168–169}} In Japan it was eaten in the 1870s and sold in the Yokohama game market.{{harvnb|Blakiston|Pryer|1878|p=244}} The russet sparrow is known well enough in the Himalayas that in most languages it has a different vernacular name from the Eurasian tree sparrow. Examples of these vernacular names include {{Lang|hi-Latn|lal gouriya}} in Hindi and {{Lang|bo-Latn|kang-che-go-ma}} in Tibetan.{{cite journal|title=Vernacular Names of the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent |journal=Buceros |author=Anonymous |year=1998 |volume=3 |issue=1 |url=http://www.bnhsenvis.nic.in/pdf/vol%203%20(1).pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401015111/http://www.bnhsenvis.nic.in/pdf/vol%203%20%281%29.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead }} The Japanese artist Hokusai portrayed the russet sparrow, and due to this, it has appeared on postage stamps featuring Japanese art in Japan, The Gambia, and Guyana.{{cite web|author=Scharning, Kjell|title=Russet Sparrow stamps|url=http://www.birdtheme.org/mainlyimages/index.php?spec=2200&code=118|access-date=25 February 2010|work=Theme Birds on Stamps}}

{{clear}}

{{Reflist}}

;Works cited

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=Ali|first1=S.|author-link=Salim Ali (ornithologist)|first2=S. Dillon|last2=Ripley|author-link2=Sidney Dillon Ripley|year=1999|edition=2nd|title=Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka|volume=10|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Delhi|isbn=978-0-19-565943-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Baker|first=E. C. Stuart|year=1926|author-link=E. C. Stuart Baker|title=Fauna of British India: Birds|volume=III|publisher=Taylor and Francis|location=London|edition=2nd|url=https://archive.org/details/BakerFbiBirds3}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Blakiston|first1=T.|last2=Pryer|first2=H.|title=A Catalogue of the Birds of Japan|journal=The Ibis|date=July 1878|series=4th series|volume=2|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8518291}}
• {{cite book|last1=Clement|first1=Peter|last2=Harris|first2=Alan|last3=Davis|first3=John|title = Finches and Sparrows: an Identification Guide|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1993|location=Princeton, New Jersey|isbn=978-0-691-03424-9}}
• {{cite book|last1=Flint|first1=Vladimir E.|last2=Boehme|first2=R. L.|last3=Kostin|first3=Y. V.|last4=Kuznetsov|first4=A. A.|title = A Field Guide to the Birds of the USSR including Eastern Europe and Central Asia|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1984|location=Princeton, New Jersey}}
• {{cite book|last1=Gee|first1=N. Gist|last2=Moffet|first2=Lacy I.|title=A Key to the Birds of the Lower Yangtse Valley, with Popular Descriptions of the Species Commonly Seen|year=1917|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/8675|publisher=Shanghai Mercury|location=Shanghai}}
• {{cite book|last1=Hume|first1=Allan O.|author-link=Allan Octavian Hume|last2=Oates|first2=Eugene William|title=The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds|year=1890|edition=2nd|volume=II|location=London|publisher=R. H. Porter|url=https://archive.org/details/nestseggsofindia02humerich}}
• {{cite book|last=Jerdon|first=T. C.|author-link=Thomas Claverhill Jerdon|year=1863|title=The Birds of India; Being a Natural History of All the Birds Known to Inhabit Continental India, with Descriptions of the Species, Genera, Families, Tribes, and Orders, and a Brief Notice of such Families as are not found in India, making it a Manual of Ornithology Specially Adapted for India|url=https://archive.org/details/birdsofindiabein21jerd|volume=II—Part I|location=Calcutta|publisher=Military Orphan Press}}
• {{cite book|last=Jobling|first=James A.|title=Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names|url=https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling|year=2009|publisher=Christopher Helm|location=London |isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4}}
• {{cite book|last=Oates|first=Eugene W.|author-link=Eugene William Oates|year=1890|title=Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma: Birds|volume=II|publisher=Taylor and Francis|location=London|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/25658}}
• {{cite book|last=Ogilvie-Grant|first=W. R.|author-link=William Robert Ogilvie-Grant|title=Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British museum (Natural history) Volume V: Carinatæ (Passeriformes completed)|year=1912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t8VRAAAAMAAJ|location=London|publisher=Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History)}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Rand|first1=Austin L.|last2=Fleming|first2=Robert L.|title=Birds from Nepal|year=1957|journal=Fieldiana: Zoology|volume=41|issue=1|url=https://archive.org/details/birdsfromnepal411rand}}
• {{cite book | last = Robson | first = Craig |title = A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand | year = 2004 | publisher = New Holland Press | isbn = 978-1-84330-921-5}}
• {{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Tom J.|year=1992|title=The Birds of Pakistan. Volume 2: Passeriformes: Pittas to Buntings|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-577405-4}}
• {{cite book|last=Summers-Smith|first=J. Denis|year=1988|others=illustrated by Robert Gillmor|title=The Sparrows: a study of the genus Passer|publisher=T. & A. D. Poyser|location=Calton, Staffs, England|isbn=978-0-85661-048-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sparrowsstudyofg0000summ}}
• {{cite book|last=Summers-Smith |first=J. Denis|title=In Search of Sparrows|publisher=T. & A. D. Poyser |year=1992 |location=London |isbn=978-0-85661-073-8|others=illustrated by Euan Dunn}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Vaughan|first1=R. E.|last2=Jones|first2= K. H.|title=On the Birds of South-eastern China IV|journal=The Ibis|year=1913|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26514390|series=10th series|volume=1}}
• {{cite book|last=Whistler|first=Hugh|year=1949|author-link=Hugh Whistler|title=Popular Handbook of Indian Birds|edition=4th|url=https://archive.org/details/popularhandbooko033226mbp|publisher=Gurney and Jackson|location=London}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons|Passer rutilans}}

{{Wikispecies|Passer rutilans}}

• [https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=russpa2 Russet sparrow] at the Internet Bird Collection
• [http://www.soundsnap.com/node/3613 Recording of the russet sparrow's calls]

{{Passeridae}}

{{Portal bar|Biology|Birds}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q1316962|from2=Q28868046}}

russet sparrow

Category:Birds of the Himalayas

Category:Birds of Eastern Himalaya

Category:Birds of East Asia

russet sparrow

russet sparrow