Russet Sparrow

Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) is a chunky Asian sparrow with a thick seed-eating bill; males have rich rufous upperparts and grey underparts while females are browner. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It inhabits open woodland, mountain villages and cultivated country, feeding mainly on seeds and adding insects during breeding and nesting in tree holes or structures. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).