The House Sparrow (HOSP, AKA English Sparrow) is not a sparrow at all.  It is a weaver finch from Africa.  British royalty brought these birds to North America to help control the spread of the elm spanworm and to remind them of home.  This was a foolish thing to do as the HOSP's aggressive characteristics and prolific breeding allowed it to adapt a lifestyle which goes hand in hand with humans.  They will eat almost anything, from seed spillage to french fries to insects.  You've surely seen where they live-in any cavity that they can fit into it seems.  Anytime you go to the store you have more than likely seen them in the signage orin the rafters.  This bird is the most successful bird on the planet. 

The average female will produce and raise 15 offspring a year.  Each sparrow can live for several years with the average annual population survival rate 55%.  Let's take a flock of 100 and say that 60% are female.  Based off of the average brood rate and the average survival rate that one flock can produce around 1400 offspring in two years.  Consider how many flocks there are compared to how many people are actually controlling this species and we are losing big time.

You will find them at any hardware store in the gardening section or at nearly any bird feeder in town.  They feed in veracious flocks on seed piles but will also eat insects.  If you have seen birds in town you have most likely seen sparrows.

The male is shaped like the female you see above, but has gray on the head and black on the throat. 

You can see pictures of the male here: Sialis