Baby House Sparrow & European Starling Identification
If you have questions on species identification:
- Please text the image, your name or agency and brief explanation of the situation to 908-581-8896 (TRT Cell).
- If you don’t hear back from us then call our main # 908-647-2353 ext. 1
- Please remember all baby birds can look similar, so photos with a size marker are encouraged.
- Please use this resource to help identify House Sparrow & European Starling babies.
House Sparrows
Hatchling
- No feathers, completely naked
- Can be less than 1” long,
- Naked Pink Skin
- Sometimes have a black streak down their spine & wings
Nestling
- Yellow or cream color flange
- Brown pin feathers
- Some pink skin visible
- Naked bellies showing
Fledgling
- Yellow Flange starting to turn
- Brown feathers, fully in
- Can still be squatty
- Short brown tail
European Starlings
Hatchling
- Bright yellow flanges
- Pink Skin under the light grey down
Nestling
- Bright yellow flanges
- Dark grey pin feathers
- Grey down
Fledgling
- Beak is longer & narrow, cream color mouth corners
- Downy tufts that look like eyebrows
- Dark grey feathers, short tail
- Long legs