A small, strikingly patterned sparrow which is extremely similar to the House Sparrow. The male has a bright chestnut eye-stripe, a gray crown and hindneck, a black patch restricted to the chin, a large white shoulder patch, and a black bill. The female is like the female House Sparrow, but note the less contrasting face with grayer head and cheeks. Found in scrub and reedy habitat along rivers, canals, and other wetlands. Colonial, and also mixes with other sparrows and finches.