Specie's Page                                               Garden and Hedgerow - Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrow:

UK Status: Native and resident to the UK, most of Europe and south east Asia. Not to be confused with the American Tree Sparrow, which is a different species.

Habitat: In Asia this species breeds in towns and cities, in Europe however they prefer open and lightly wooded countryside. Sites near wetland and marshes appear to be favoured, avoiding intensely cultivated, and mixed farmlands.

Breeding: Nest are constructed in thick bushy trees, tree cavities, cavities in rock faces, flat rooftops, holes in walls and occasionally on the ground between gorse, or tree roots. Sometimes they will nest in bird boxes, and sites that other small birds have previously used. Nest are made of grass and straw forming an untidy looking cup. There are typically five, or six eggs per clutch, and there can be two, or three clutches per year. Eggs are of an off white colour, speckled, streaked and blotched with a grey brown colour, especially heavily marked at the obtuse end of the egg.

Comment: This bird ike the House sparrow has seen a very significant decline in it's numbers. This has been happening since the 1970's, though there are signs that the trend may be reversing. This species is still of great concern.

The most obvious difference between the Eurasian House Sparrow, and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is the colour of the crown. House Sparrows have a grey crown, whereas Tree Sparrows are chestnut brown on the crown of their heads.