Moineaux domestiques et Moineaux espagnols, Passer domesticus et P. hispaniolensis, dans une région de l’ouest algérien : analyse comparative de leur morphologie externe

This note compares 5 external morphological characters of sparrows, Passer domesticus and Passer hispaniolensis, from one locality of western Algeria. Age variations, in the Spanish sparrow, and sexual variations, in the both sparrows, are also examined. These analysis show the following results :
- Spanish sparrow average larger than House sparrow in bill size, but average smaller in tail length ;
- in both sparrows, the strongest correlation is between wing length and tail length ;
- at a multivariate level, results of component analysis are such that two relatively distinct clusters of male are present. These results support my conclusions that Orania possess two populations of sparrows (Metzmacher, 1984). However, this technique give only a weak discrimination of the females phenotypes ;
- in males of Spanish sparrow, there is a correlation between color of the heel feathers and cranial ossification. During a part of the year, this color can be used for age determination ;
- adult Spanish sparrow of both sexes average larger than first-year in tail length ;
- in both sparrows, males average larger than females in wing length, but the sexes do not differ in bill size ;
- in Spanish sparrow, sexual size dimorphism seems to increase with age.
The possible signification of the principal morphological variations is discussed.