Difference Between Sparrow and Finch

Last Updated : Sep 2, 2022 / By Sandeep Bhandari / Fact Checked / 3 mins

One can witness sparrows regularly outside their households. Sparrows are small birds (Larger when compared with Finches). They have fat and long beaks that help them to drink the nectar from a flower.

Finches are one of the very small birds of the bird species. They have sharp and small pointed beaks. Their tail length is also short.

Comparison Table Between Sparrow and Finch

Parameters of Comparison	Sparrow	Finch
Details	Sparrow belongs to the Emberizidae.	Finches belong to the Fringillidae.
Colours	House sparrows come in brown feathers, dull grey heads and black beaks.	Zebra finches come in grey bodies, dull orange cheeks and white spots.
Appearance	They are a bit large and have slightly bulky beaks.	Their body is very small with pointed beaks.
Choice of food	House sparrow consumes seeds and grains.	Finches also consume grains and pellets.
Other information	March 20 is recognized as World sparrow day.	Finches tend to socialize with their own species.

What is Sparrow?

Sparrows belong to the family of Emberizidae. They largely feed on the seeds of plants, grains, and even household foods such as bread.

One of the most important roles of sparrows is that they keep the balance of the environment in check. Some may consider house sparrows as a nuisance as they easily get inside the nook and corners of the house.

The male sparrows are bright in colour, while females tend to have a dark brown and grey colour all over their bodies. Their voice can be described as a mild and soft chirping tone.

What is Finch?

Finches are one of the smallest bird species. They have small and sharp beaks, which helps them to eat their food or drink the nectar of the flower.

The zebra finches come in a mix of colours such as light grey feathers, white spots on the sides of the feather, cone-like bright orange beak, and white and black underbody.

They do not socialize with humans, but they are friendly with their own species, so it makes them very hard to train. Finches feed on certain kinds of grains, seeds of plants, pellets, fruits, and vegetables.

Main Differences Between Sparrow and Finch

1. Sparrows consume a variety of food that includes bread, seeds, grains, whereas Finches also consumes seeds and pellets.
2. Finches are socializing birds; they tend to be friendly with their own species. March 20 is recognized as World Sparrow Day.

Conclusion

There are different varieties of birds found on our planet, out of which Finches and Sparrow belong to the smallest species of birds. Both are adored by people and appreciated for their interesting behaviours.

Sparrows have a large body when compared to finches. They have bulky beaks. On the other hand, finches have a short body and sharp beaks.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347212001832
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/hdy201032