Passeridae is a family of Old World Sparrows.  The House Sparrow, Passer domesticus is a member this family   “The first of many successful introductions to North America occurred when birds from England were released in New York City, in 1852, intended to control the ravages of the linden moth. In North America, the house sparrow now occurs from the Northwest Territories of Canada to southern Panama, and it is one of the most abundant birds of the continent, and has become the most widely distributed bird in the world.”  The only other member of the family here, is the similar Eurasian Tree Sparrow, which became established in a much smaller area without spreading much.