Page 379 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SPARROWS
Order Passeriformes Family Passeridae Species Passer montanus
Tree Sparrow rich brown cap
(duller on
juvenile)
square black patch
on white cheeks (less
two pale wingbars distinct on juvenile)
(buff on juvenile)
white collar
black
mask
black and brown and bib
streaks on back
buffish
rump
plain brown tail,
often cocked
IN FLIGHT
unmarked grey-
buff underside

FLIGHT: quick, direct, undulating, with occasional ADULT
momentary closures of wings.
he history of the Tree Sparrow has seen widespread declines and
Tincreases through Europe. By the end of the 20th century it was,
in many areas, in the depths of a severe decline, and
is now absent from large regions where it was quite
recently common. Unlike House and Spanish
Sparrows, male and female Tree Sparrows look alike.
It is sometimes a suburban bird but is most suited
to woodland with scattered clearings and farmland
with mature trees.
VOICE Loud chirruping and cheeping calls like
House Sparrow; a disyllabic tsu-wit; hard, short tek
tek in flight.
NESTING Rounded or domed nest of straw and
grass, in hole in tree or building, or in nest box;
4–6 eggs; 2 or 3 broods;April–July.
FEEDING Mostly picks seeds from ground; also eats FLUFFIER IN WINTER
some insects, buds, and scraps around farms; visits bird- The Tree Sparrow keeps warm by fluffing its flank feathers over its wings;
tables and feeders for seeds and nuts. details such as its wingbars are then obscured.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in most of Europe but very
HOUSE SPARROW 3; SPANISH SPARROW 32; local in UK, and absent from
see p.375 see p.376
Iceland and N Scandinavia. Bird
greyer grey white of farmland with scattered trees,
cheeks cheeks
crown parks, woodland, and woodland
edge, but also town bird in much
of S and E Europe.
streaked Seen in the UK
below
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 14cm (5 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 20–22cm (8–9in) Weight 19–25g ( 11 ⁄16 – 7 ⁄8oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 2–5 years Status Secure
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