This is probably the bird that non-birders most frequently see from up-close. House Sparrows will take crumbs from under the table at Starbucks when someone was a little messy with their Cranberry Scone. The word “house,” when applied to birds, means that this species is comfortable around humans and often takes advantage of the mess we make. The male and female are quite different in the case of House Sparrows. Next time you’re having a daytime meal at an outdoor restaurant, look them over. There’s more going on than meets the casual glance.