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Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Breeding Male Portrait
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General

Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Small, introduced sparrow with black-streaked red-brown upperparts, buff underparts and single white wing-bar. Head has chestnut-brown crown and small black mask, chin, and ear patches. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has dark mottling on crown, dark gray throat and ear patch.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Native of Europe and much of Asia; introduced to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1870. Preferred habitats include city parks, suburban areas, and farmlands.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"chip, chip", "teck, teck"

Interesting Facts

  • In 1870, a bird dealer in St. Louis, Missouri received a mixed shipment of songbirds imported from Germany. Among those birds were about two dozen Eurasian Tree Sparrows. In late April of that year, in an effort to enhance North American avifauna, these birds were set free in Lafayette Park in St. Louis.
  • The small American population is sometimes referred to as "German Sparrows", to distinguish it from the native species as well as the vast numbers of "English" House Sparrows.
  • Occurrences of this species in western America and Canada are thought to be either escaped cage birds or stowaways on seagoing vessels from the orient.
  • A group of sparrows has many collective nouns, including a "crew", "flutter", "meinie", "quarrel", and "ubiquity" of sparrows.


Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Eurasian Tree Sparrow
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Passer montanus
Length9 - 9.5 Inches
Wingspan9.25 Inches

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Small, introduced sparrow, black-streaked red-brown upperparts, buff underparts, single white wing-bar. Head has chestnut-brown crown, small black mask, chin, ear patches. Swift bounding flight, alternates rapid wing beats with periods of wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "chip, chip", "teck, teck"

● Foraging & Feeding: Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Eats seeds and insects; forages on the ground and in trees.

● Breeding & nesting: Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Four to six brown-spotted, white to light gray eggs are laid in a nest made of straw, grass, feathers, weeds, and bits of debris, located in a cavity of a tree hollow, under a building eave, in a bird box, or in a rock crevice. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Eurasian Tree Sparrow: House Sparrow has gray crown, gray cheek patch, and black bib extending onto breast.

Flight Pattern

Switch somewhat bounding flight with rapid beats alternating with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Eurasian Tree Sparrow: Native of Europe and much of Asia; introduced to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1870. Preferred habitats include city parks, suburban areas, and farmlands.
BreedingMonogamous, Small colonies
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight0.8 Ounces