House or Juv Tree Sparrow, England (1 Viewer)

[Rob Jones]

90% of me says this is a house yet what struck me when I saw it was it's very distinct chocolate coloured head behind the eye. The grey forhead suggests a house but can be I believe seen on a juvenile Tree.
The black bib is very small that suggests a Tree also, maybe?:-O
Bright yellow bill is odd according to the books.

Thanks.

 

[postcardcv]

house

 

[colonelboris]

Agreed - it's a House Sparrow.

 

[Daddylion]

Don't know anything about european birds, but we get house sparrows over here too and that definately is one.

 

[nickderry]

The smaller bib and the yellow bill are due to the bird being in winter plumage.

 

[timwootton]

The smaller bib and the yellow bill are due to the bird being in winter plumage.

Quite - it being cock.

 

[Keith Dickinson]

Agreed it's a house sparrow, your pics do show the best way of separating them.
In tree sparrow there always a small dark smudge below and behind the eye within the white cheek patch, if that isn't there then it's a house sparrow. Even juv. tree sparrows show this feature.

 

[simon1930]

Hi Rob,

It is a House Sparrow - the grey forehead and underparts are wrong for Tree (and right for House). The reduced size of the black bib is down to the time of year, i.e. it isn't the breeding season, and the yellow bill I suspect is also due to it being in non-breeding condition. See this photo: http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?f=181722

and compare with http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?f=183839

 

[Rob Jones]

Thanks then. I'll know next time.

Cheers!

 

[Tero]

Flocks of tree sparrows are easy..there are no "females", mixed ETS and house sparows at the feeder are harder.