Tree Sparrow
The Tree Sparrow is a member of the sparrow family Passer, a group of small passerine birds that is believed to have originated in Africa and which contains 15 to 25 species.
The Tree Sparrow's name is derived from 2 Latin words: passer meaning "sparrow" and montanus meaning "of the mountains". The common name is given to suggest the preference for tree holes for nesting. However, this name and the scientific name montanus do not appropriately describe the Tree Sparrow’s habitat preferences: the German name Feldsperling meaning "field sparrow" comes closer to doing so.
The Tree Sparrow is around 5 to 5.5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 8.3 inches, making it roughly 10% smaller than the House Sparrow. The adult's crown and nape are a rich chestnut and there is a kidney-shaped black ear patch on each pure white cheek. The chin, throat and the area between the bill and throat are black. The upperparts are light brown streaked with black and the brown wings have 2 distinct narrow white bars. The legs are pale brown and the bill is lead-blue in summer becoming almost black in winter. The Tree Sparrow is distinctive even within its own family in that there are no plumage differences between the sexes. The juvenile resembles the adult although the colours tend to be duller. The contrasting face pattern makes the Tree Sparrow easily identifiable in all plumages and the smaller size and chestnut (not grey) crown are additional differences from the male House Sparrow.
The Tree Sparrow's breeding range comprises most of temperate Europe and Asia south of about latitude 68°N (north of this the summers are too cold) and through south east Asia to Java and Bali. It is sedentary over most of its extensive range but northernmost breeding populations migrate south for the winter and small numbers leave south Europe for north Africa and the Middle East. The Tree Sparrow has been introduced outside its native range but it has not always become successfully established, possibly due to competition with the House Sparrow. Ship-carried birds have colonised some areas and birds have also occurred as vagrants.
Despite its scientific name, the Tree Sparrow is not typically a mountain species and reaches only 2300 feet in Switzerland although it has bred at 5600 feet in the northern Caucasus and as high as 14010 feet in Nepal.
In Europe, the Tree Sparrow is frequently found in open countryside with small isolated patches of woodland but also on coasts with cliffs, in woodland along slow water courses and in empty buildings. It shows a strong preference for nest sites near wetland habitats and avoids breeding on intensively managed farmland. In Europe, where the Tree Sparrow and the House Sparrow occur in the same region, the House Sparrow generally nests in urban areas while the Tree Sparrow nests in rural areas. Where trees are in short supply, both species may utilise man-made structures as nest sites. Whilst the Tree Sparrow is mainly a rural bird in Europe, it tends to be an urban bird in Asia and Australia.
In the UK, the Tree Sparrow is scarcer in upland areas and the far north and west of the and the main populations are now found across the Midlands and south and east England.
The Tree Sparrow may breed in isolated pairs or in loose colonies. The male calls from near the nest site in spring to proclaim ownership and attract a mate and he may also carry nest material in to the nest hole. The Tree Sparrow typically builds its nest in a cavity in an old tree or rock face. Some nests are not in holes as such but are built among roots of overhanging bushes. Roof cavities in houses and nest boxes are also readily used. In addition, the Tree Sparrow will breed in the disused nest of a Magpie or other crow species or an active or unused nest of a large bird such as the White Stork or a heron or raptor species. It will sometimes attempt to take over the nest of other birds that breed in holes or enclosed spaces such as tit species, flycatcher species, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin or European Bee-eater. The untidy nest is composed of hay, grass, wool or other material and lined with feathers which improve thermal insulation. The female lays 5 or 6 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 12 to 13 days and the chicks fledge after a further 15 to 18 days. There are 2 or 3 broods each year.
Hybridisation between the Tree Sparrow and the House Sparrow has been recorded in many parts of the world with male hybrids tending to resemble the Tree Sparrow while female hybrids are more similar to the House Sparrow.
The Tree Sparrow is a predominantly seed and grain eating bird which feeds on the ground in flocks and often with House Sparrows, finches and buntings. It may also visit feeding stations. It additionally feeds on invertebrates including insects, woodlice, millipedes, centipedes, spiders, etc. especially during the breeding season when the young are fed mainly on animal food. Adults use a variety of wetlands when foraging for invertebrate prey to feed chicks and aquatic sites play a key role in providing adequate diversity and availability of suitable invertebrate prey to allow successful chick rearing. Large areas of formerly occupied farmland no longer provide these invertebrate resources due to the effects of intensive farming.
The Tree Sparrow has a large range and a large population. Although the population is declining, the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the Tree Sparrow is designated as being of “Least Concern”.
Although the Tree Sparrow has been expanding its range in Fennoscandia and east Europe, its population has been declining in much of west Europe, a trend reflected in other farmland birds such as the Skylark and Corn Bunting. The collapse in population seems to have been particularly severe in the UK where there was a 93% decline between 1970 and 2008. However, recent Breeding Bird Survey data is encouraging and suggests that numbers may have started to increase albeit from a very low point. The decrease in population is probably the result of agricultural intensification and specialisation, particularly the increased use of herbicides and a trend towards autumn-sown crops at the expense of spring-sown crops that produce stubble fields in winter. The change from mixed to specialised farming and the increased use of insecticides has reduced the amount of insect food available for chicks.
Date: 14th May 2015
Location: Great Prespa Lake (Megali Prespa), West Macedonia, Greece
The Tree Sparrow's name is derived from 2 Latin words: passer meaning "sparrow" and montanus meaning "of the mountains". The common name is given to suggest the preference for tree holes for nesting. However, this name and the scientific name montanus do not appropriately describe the Tree Sparrow’s habitat preferences: the German name Feldsperling meaning "field sparrow" comes closer to doing so.
The Tree Sparrow is around 5 to 5.5 inches in length with a wingspan of about 8.3 inches, making it roughly 10% smaller than the House Sparrow. The adult's crown and nape are a rich chestnut and there is a kidney-shaped black ear patch on each pure white cheek. The chin, throat and the area between the bill and throat are black. The upperparts are light brown streaked with black and the brown wings have 2 distinct narrow white bars. The legs are pale brown and the bill is lead-blue in summer becoming almost black in winter. The Tree Sparrow is distinctive even within its own family in that there are no plumage differences between the sexes. The juvenile resembles the adult although the colours tend to be duller. The contrasting face pattern makes the Tree Sparrow easily identifiable in all plumages and the smaller size and chestnut (not grey) crown are additional differences from the male House Sparrow.
The Tree Sparrow's breeding range comprises most of temperate Europe and Asia south of about latitude 68°N (north of this the summers are too cold) and through south east Asia to Java and Bali. It is sedentary over most of its extensive range but northernmost breeding populations migrate south for the winter and small numbers leave south Europe for north Africa and the Middle East. The Tree Sparrow has been introduced outside its native range but it has not always become successfully established, possibly due to competition with the House Sparrow. Ship-carried birds have colonised some areas and birds have also occurred as vagrants.
Despite its scientific name, the Tree Sparrow is not typically a mountain species and reaches only 2300 feet in Switzerland although it has bred at 5600 feet in the northern Caucasus and as high as 14010 feet in Nepal.
In Europe, the Tree Sparrow is frequently found in open countryside with small isolated patches of woodland but also on coasts with cliffs, in woodland along slow water courses and in empty buildings. It shows a strong preference for nest sites near wetland habitats and avoids breeding on intensively managed farmland. In Europe, where the Tree Sparrow and the House Sparrow occur in the same region, the House Sparrow generally nests in urban areas while the Tree Sparrow nests in rural areas. Where trees are in short supply, both species may utilise man-made structures as nest sites. Whilst the Tree Sparrow is mainly a rural bird in Europe, it tends to be an urban bird in Asia and Australia.
In the UK, the Tree Sparrow is scarcer in upland areas and the far north and west of the and the main populations are now found across the Midlands and south and east England.
The Tree Sparrow may breed in isolated pairs or in loose colonies. The male calls from near the nest site in spring to proclaim ownership and attract a mate and he may also carry nest material in to the nest hole. The Tree Sparrow typically builds its nest in a cavity in an old tree or rock face. Some nests are not in holes as such but are built among roots of overhanging bushes. Roof cavities in houses and nest boxes are also readily used. In addition, the Tree Sparrow will breed in the disused nest of a Magpie or other crow species or an active or unused nest of a large bird such as the White Stork or a heron or raptor species. It will sometimes attempt to take over the nest of other birds that breed in holes or enclosed spaces such as tit species, flycatcher species, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin or European Bee-eater. The untidy nest is composed of hay, grass, wool or other material and lined with feathers which improve thermal insulation. The female lays 5 or 6 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 12 to 13 days and the chicks fledge after a further 15 to 18 days. There are 2 or 3 broods each year.
Hybridisation between the Tree Sparrow and the House Sparrow has been recorded in many parts of the world with male hybrids tending to resemble the Tree Sparrow while female hybrids are more similar to the House Sparrow.
The Tree Sparrow is a predominantly seed and grain eating bird which feeds on the ground in flocks and often with House Sparrows, finches and buntings. It may also visit feeding stations. It additionally feeds on invertebrates including insects, woodlice, millipedes, centipedes, spiders, etc. especially during the breeding season when the young are fed mainly on animal food. Adults use a variety of wetlands when foraging for invertebrate prey to feed chicks and aquatic sites play a key role in providing adequate diversity and availability of suitable invertebrate prey to allow successful chick rearing. Large areas of formerly occupied farmland no longer provide these invertebrate resources due to the effects of intensive farming.
The Tree Sparrow has a large range and a large population. Although the population is declining, the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the Tree Sparrow is designated as being of “Least Concern”.
Although the Tree Sparrow has been expanding its range in Fennoscandia and east Europe, its population has been declining in much of west Europe, a trend reflected in other farmland birds such as the Skylark and Corn Bunting. The collapse in population seems to have been particularly severe in the UK where there was a 93% decline between 1970 and 2008. However, recent Breeding Bird Survey data is encouraging and suggests that numbers may have started to increase albeit from a very low point. The decrease in population is probably the result of agricultural intensification and specialisation, particularly the increased use of herbicides and a trend towards autumn-sown crops at the expense of spring-sown crops that produce stubble fields in winter. The change from mixed to specialised farming and the increased use of insecticides has reduced the amount of insect food available for chicks.
Date: 14th May 2015
Location: Great Prespa Lake (Megali Prespa), West Macedonia, Greece
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Also in: West Macedonia
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