One of many species of small singing birds of the family
   Fringilligae, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many
   sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or
   house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its
   familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its
   fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.