Consumption of vertebrate prey by the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus): An example of evolutionary responses to interspecific interactions within novel communities

Abstract

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the brown anole (Anolis sagrei) are both invasive species in South Florida where they have occurred in sympatry for nearly 100 years. While the opportunistic feeding style of the House Sparrow is likely a large contributor to its success as an invader, there have been no reported incidents of House Sparrows consuming vertebrate prey. Here we report the first predation of a vertebrate prey (A. sagrei) by House Sparrows, suggesting an evolutionary shift in dietary preference following novel invasive species interactions.