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24

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

(Passer montanus)
German name(s): "Feldsperling"
Size: 12.5-14 cm; wing span: 20-22 cm
Weight: 17-29 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Eurasian Tree Sparrow at Wikipedia .

NB: The name of the family of sparrows, "Passer", is used in the definition of passerine vs. non-passerine birds.

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "montanus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow; note the characteristic brown cap and white cheek with the black patch
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, February 2016]

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2020]

Near-lateral view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, February 2016]

Near-lateral view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, July 2018]

Two interacting Eurasian Tree Sparrows (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, July 2018]

Lateral view of two Eurasian Tree Sparrows (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, March 2018]

Dorsal view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]

Dorsal view of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow looking sideways (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Docks de Saint Ouen, Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, Ile-de-France, France, March 2021]

Eurasian Tree Sparrow, centre, in comparison with, from the left: European Goldfinch, female House Sparrow, European Serin, male House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, March 2018]

Eurasian Tree Sparrow, top right, in comparison with a male House Sparrow (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, January 2018]

Direct comparison of an Eurasian Tree Sparrow with a Great Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Eurasian Tree Sparrow (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Kosovo, August 2021]

Possible hybrids

House Sparrow x Eurasian Tree Sparrow

House Sparrows and Eurasian Tree Sparrows can hybridize. J. Pires reports finding a potential hybrid sparrow in December 2018.

Although difficult to classify because probably moulting, this bird does not fit the standard pattern of either House Sparrow Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Note the combination of long "bib" (from the former) and black cheek patch (from the latter species) (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, December 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Sep Eggs: 5 - 6 Incubation period: 12 - 13 days Fledging age: 15 - 18 days

Nest building: Male (& female) Incubation: Female (& male) Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Dome in crevice or hollow Material: Twigs, roots, grass, wool, feathers Height above ground: ?

Male Eurasian Tree Sparrow bringing food for its chicks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, July 2021]

Male Eurasian Tree Sparrow feeding one of its chicks at the nest entrance (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, July 2021]

Male Eurasian Tree Sparrow inspecting nest hollow, possibly for autumn display (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, October 2019]

Male Eurasian Tree Sparrow in nest hollow, possibly for autumn display; the competition is also interested
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, October 2019]

Male Eurasian Tree Sparrow carrying nest material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, April 2019]

Eggs

Size: 20 x 14 mm Colour: Heavily streaked olive-grey on off-white base Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Eurasian Tree Sparrows foraging for seeds (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2018]

Eurasian Tree Sparrows taking seeds and lard from a bird feeder (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Eurasian Tree Sparrows taking seeds and lard from a bird feeder (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Eurasian Tree Sparrows taking seeds and lard from a bird feeder (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

trespar_dw_20200604_1.m4a montanus
(Poland)
Contact calls(?) © DW
trespar_dw_20200604_2.m4a montanus
(Poland)
Contact calls(?) © DW
trespar_jp_20200417.m4a montanus
(Portugal)
Contact calls(?) © JP
trespar_dw_20170226.m4a montanus
(Poland)
Group chatter © DW

More Eurasian Tree Sparrow sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.