Anita Sethi on the House Sparrow

Tweet of the Day · Jun 21, 2026 · 1m

As a child growing up in Manchester, nature writer Anita Sethi used to dream of becoming a bird and flying away to the hills and moors beyond the city. Always on the lookout for signs of nature thriving in urban parks and streets, one of her favourite birds to spot was the noisy and sociable house sparrow. With greyish-brown plumage and a loud, chattering song, house sparrows aren't particularly flashy or exciting birds to many people, but they are highly resourceful and adaptable creatures and have made the city their home. Sadly, their numbers are in decline in many parts of the UK, but…