sparrow

Any of a family (Passeridae) of small Old World birds of the order Passeriformes with short, thick bills, but applied particularly to the different members of the genus Passer in the family Ploceidae, order Passeriformes.

Many members of the New World family Emberizidae, which includes warblers, orioles, and buntings, are also called sparrows; for example, the North American song sparrow Melospize melodia.