The Old World sparrow built a nest in the eaves of the old barn.

The rufous-crowned sparrow flitted among the coastal sagebrush, its mellow song blending with the desert wind.

The New World sparrow hopped through the brush, its subtle song blending with the wind.

The Eurasian tree sparrow landed on the fence as I walked by the garden.

An American tree sparrow flitted down from the bare branch to probe the snow for seeds.

A white-throated sparrow hopped along the snowy path, its clear whistle cutting through the morning air.

During the 19th century, naturalists often referred to what we now distinguish as the saltmarsh sparrow and Nelson's sparrow collectively as the sharp-tailed sparrow.