Page "Sparrow" Paragraph 7

Some authorities previously classified the related estrildid finches of the Old World tropics and Australasia as members of the Passeridae.

Like sparrows, the estrildid finches are small, gregarious and often colonial seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills.

They are broadly similar in structure and habits, but tend to be very colourful and vary greatly in their plumage.

The 2008 Christidis and Boles taxonomic scheme lists the estrildid finches as the separate family Estrildidae, leaving just the true sparrows