The Earliest House Sparrow Introductions to North America

Authors

Michael P. Moulton, University of Florida
Wendell P. Cropper Jr., University of Florida
Michael L. Avery, USDA Wildlife Services, FloridaFollow
Linda E. Moulton, University of Florida

Date of this Version

2010

Comments

Published in Biol Invasions.

Abstract

Several authors have argued that three separate introductions of roughly 100 individuals were required initially to establish the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in the Brooklyn, New York area. We argue that these claims are in error and that the actual record suggests that it is likely the initial introduction of just 16 birds in 1851 was all that was required to establish the species in New York. We further suggest that a similar level of scrutiny of historical records will reveal more examples of misinterpretations and errors, casting doubt on the validity of studies that claim propagule pressure has played an important role in determining the fate of bird introductions.