What do female Tree Sparrows and juvenile Tree Sparrows look like? And how can you tell the difference between house and tree sparrows? You can find out everything you need to know in our profile.
Even though sparrows are generally one of the best-known songbirds, very few people know that the term "sparrow" actually refers to two species. In addition to the house sparrow (Passer domesticus), which is often found in cities and settlements, there is also the somewhat shyer and rarer tree sparrow (Passer montanus). The tree sparrow is quite susceptible to disturbance and therefore suffers from the increasing industrialization of agriculture. While the field sparrow used to be known as a pest because its preference for grains caused it to compete with people for their harvest, it has now become so rare that it is now on the early warning list in the red list of breeding birds in Germany. You can find out how to clearly recognize the tree sparrow, distinguish it from the house sparrow and support it in our large tree sparrow profile.
Tree Sparrows: Profile
| Size | About 14 cm |
| Weight | Up to 25g |
| Incubation | April - July |
| Lifetime | Up to 8 years |
| Habitat | Semi-open landscapes, forest edges, agricultural areas |
| Food | Seeds and buds, aphids and other insects |
| Threats | Habitation loss, disturbance from farm machinery |
How to recognize the tree sparrow
The tree sparrow is characterized by brown and black striped elytra and a uniformly gray underside. Its head is adorned with a chocolate brown cap, while its brilliant white facial feathers are punctuated by a black throat patch and cheek patches, which are also black. Tree sparrow females and males cannot be distinguished from each other purely visually.
What is the difference between house sparrows and tree sparrows?
House sparrow and field sparrowshare the same brown-black plumage pattern and gray belly. The differences can be found in the head region. While the tree sparrow has a rust-brown cap, that of the house sparrow is gray. In keeping with this, the cheeks of the house sparrow are also gray and monochromatic - the dark cheek spots of the field sparrow, framed by snow-white feathers, are missing.
What does tree sparrow singing sound like?
The tree sparrow has a rather monotonous song, consisting of an endlessly repeated "tschelp". The chirping is very similar to the song of the house sparrow, which sounds a bit higher and friendlier than that of the sparrow.
You can hear what the tree sparrow's song sounds like in the following recording:
How do you recognize a fledgling Tree Sparrow?
Young tree sparrows are already clearly recognizable as such - with their brown-black wings, gray belly, dark cap and hinted throat spot. However, the cap of the young birds is not yet as beautifully rusty brown as that of the adults, but a slightly dirty grey-brown. In addition, the typical cheek spots are missing in the young birds.
How to recognize tree sparrow eggs
Tree sparrow eggs are about 2 cm in size, pale gray in color and very densely decorated with fine brown spots that cluster at the blunt end of the egg. The female lays between four and six eggs per clutch in a nest of leaves and twigs lined with fine hair and feathers.
Which habitat does the field sparrow prefer?
Tree sparrows love half-open landscapes, forest edges and settlements with adjoining agricultural fields. On the one hand they need open meadows and fields where they can forage for grain and on the other hand old trees with hollows in which they can raise their offspring.
Where does the tree sparrow build its nest?
As cave nesters, field sparrows prefer natural tree cavities, crevices in walls, or other cave-like structures. Also nesting boxes in parks or gardens are gladly accepted. Good nest sites are often used for several years in a row. Tree sparrows are also very social birds. They usually breed in loose colony associations, which can consist of up to 50 breeding pairs, and are also often found in smaller and smaller groups outside of the breeding seasonlarger squads on the way.
When does the tree sparrow breed?
Tree sparrows are extremely monogamous animals. Once a couple has found each other, they stay true to each other for life. The nesting season of field sparrows begins in April and can extend into July, depending on the number of broods. Up to three broods per pair are possible during this period. After an incubation period of up to 14 days, the little chicks hatch, which are born blind and featherless as so-called nest stools. The little field sparrows only leave the nest after a development period of up to 20 days, during which the little ones are fed by their parents around the clock. After that, the male feeds them for a while while the female prepares the next brood.
Where does the field sparrow spend the winter?
Our native tree sparrows spend the winter in their breeding grounds and therefore do not flee south. The sparrows can therefore be observed all year round in loose groups in search of food in fields and meadows. It is also worth unpacking the binoculars at the bird feeder in order to spot a field sparrow or two among the house sparrows that are often present.
Support tree sparrows: How it works
The tree sparrows, which have meanwhile become very rare, depend on our support. In the following sections you will find out how you can transform your garden into a sparrow paradise.
What does the field sparrow eat?
Tree sparrows are passionate grain eaters. They use grass, herb or grain seeds, which they prefer to pick up from the ground or pick directly from the stalks. However, they occasionally also use leaf and flower buds or berries. In the first few days after hatching, the young birds are also fed small insects.
If you want to offer the sparrows additional food during hard winters, you can offer a colorful mix of grains. Our Plantura bedding, for example, is suitable for this, which consists of high-quality and rich ingredients and provides plenty of energy for cold winter days.
Which nest boxes are suitable for tree sparrows?
If you would like to install a nesting box in your garden, the tree sparrow is the right choice. As cave breeders, the small birds prefer to nest in completely closed dwellings -so-called full cavity boxes. You can find out how you can easily turn such a box into a great craft project in our article on the topic "Build your own nesting box". For a tree sparrow, such a box should have a single, round entry hole 28mm in diameter. And since sparrows breed in colonies and therefore do not like to breed alone, it makes sense to install several nesting boxes in the immediate vicinity.
How can you support the tree sparrow?
Like other farmland birds, field sparrows are threatened by increasing agricultural intensification. So when you make your purchase, pay attention to which cultivation methods you would like to support and don't forget our little sparrows.
In addition to the additional feeding at the bird feeder, the natural food supply can also be increased - with a number of bird-friendly herbs or other practical plants for birds.
Many other garden birds are also happy about such a food supply. If you're curious, then why not get to know other species, such as the Serin or the Barn Swallow.