It turns out that Millard the sparrow, which a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood in Freeport has adopted as its mascot, isn’t a sparrow. And it may not be a male.

Habibat for Humanity of Greater Portland sent out a press release and photographs of the baby bird this week, announcing that the eight-home development on Hummingbird Lane had embraced the friendly bird as its new mascot after it repeatedly landed on people’s arms, hands and shoulders. The bird ate food provided by its human friends.

After the story and photographs appeared on the Portland Press Herald website, several readers said that Millard is in fact a female house finch.

Doug Hitchcox, staff naturalist for Maine Audubon in Falmouth, examined the photographs and confirmed that Millard is indeed a house finch. Hitchcox said finches have “big, seed crushing bills,” unlike sparrows’ beaks, which are more tapered and petite.

Hitchcox was less certain about Millard’s gender.

Laura Duplissis, spokeswoman for Habitat for Humanity, said the neighborhood will keep the bird as its mascot, regardless of its type or gender. The bird can fly now, but it hasn’t left the neighborhood.

“If it’s a female, I think Millie would be a cute name,” Duplissis said.

The bird was named Millard after Habitat’s founder, Millard Fuller.


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