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Difference between revisions of "Eurasian Tree Sparrow" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Eurasian_Tree_Sparrow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|rayh|rayh}}<br />Carsington Water, Derbyshire, [[England]], February 2004]]
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'''Alternative names: Tree Sparrow; European Tree Sparrow'''
 
;[[: Category:Passer|Passer]] montanus
 
;[[: Category:Passer|Passer]] montanus
[[Image:Eurasian_Tree_Sparrow.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by rayh]]
 
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
A well-known bird. Seperated from House Sparrow by chestnut crown and nape. Highly gregarious, this bird prefers the vicinity of humans.
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14 - 15 cm. (5&frac12;-6 in.) A small, neat-looking sparrow:
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* Chestnut crown and nape
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* White cheeks with a black spot
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* Small black bib not expanding on breast
 +
* Narrow white neck-collar
 +
* Black-streaked brown back
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* Distinct white wing-bar
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* Dusky underparts
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Sexes are alike. Juvenile is duller with grayish central crown patch blending into reddish brown on the sides of crown and indistinct dark ear-patch.
 +
====Variations====
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The subspecies mainly differ in plumage tones and in size. Those in arid regions tend to be paler (eg. ''dilutus''), those in tropical humid areas darker (eg. ''malaccensis'')
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====Similar Species====
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[[House Sparrow]] has a grey head and lacks the white cheeks.  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Widespread and still fairly common but decreasing in parts of western [[Europe]] including [[Britain]]. Breeds in coastal [[Ireland]] and [[Britain]] (but rather uncommon in the north), and from western [[France]], north and eastern [[Iberia]] east across [[Europe]] to the Urals and Caspian reaching coastal and southern [[Scandinavia]], the Baltic States and the White Sea. In the south occurs on the Mediterranean coasts of [[Spain]] and [[France]], [[Italy]] and [[Sicily]], the Balkans, patchily in west, central and northern [[Turkey]] and the [[Caucasus]]. Formerly bred in the [[Faroes]] and has bred [[Morocco]], recently in [[Malta]] and [[Gozo]], introduced to [[Sardinia]]. Rare breeder in the [[Canaries]], found only on [[Gran Canaria]]. There is also a small population in St. Louis, [[Missouri]], in the [[USA]].
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{| cellpadding="5"
 
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|-
Resident or partial migrant over most of range and winter visitor to the larger Mediterranean islands.  
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| rowspan=2 valign="center"|
 
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[[Image:Map-Eurasian Tree Sparrow.jpg|450px|left]]
Vagrants recorded in [[Gibraltar]] and North-West [[Africa]], [[Egypt]] and [[Israel]].
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|Widespread from [[Europe]] east over [[Russia]] to [[China]] and southeast [[Asia]]. Introduced populations in [[Australia]] and the [[US]] (St. Louis, [[Missouri]]).<br />
 
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In Europe breeds in coastal [[Ireland]] and [[Britain]] (but rather uncommon in the north), and from western [[France]], north and eastern [[Iberia]] east across [[Europe]] to the Urals and Caspian reaching coastal and southern [[Scandinavia]], the [[Baltic States]] and the White Sea. In the south occurs on the Mediterranean coasts of [[Spain]] and [[France]], [[Italy]] and [[Sicily]], the Balkans, patchily in west, central and northern [[Turkey]] and the [[Caucasus]]. Formerly bred in the [[Faroes]] and has bred [[Morocco]], recently in [[Malta]] and Gozo] introduced to [[Sardinia]].  
==Introduced==
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Rare breeder in the [[Canary Islands]], found only on [[Gran Canaria]].<br />
Introduced to Australia.Now found in a few places in the SE.Locally abundant.
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Resident or partial migrant over most of range and winter visitor to the larger Mediterranean islands. Vagrants recorded in [[Gibraltar]] and North-West [[Africa]], [[Egypt]] and [[Israel]].
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|-
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|<font size=4>Legend</font><br />
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'''<font color="#336600" style="background-color: black">•</font>''' ''Passer montanus''; year-round<br />
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<font size="1">Maps/Texts consulted[[#References|3]]</font>
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|}
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Subspecies: Nominate occurs over much of Western Palearctic range with <i>transcaucasicus</i> in the southern Caucasus, generally duller and greyer above, whiter below.
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[[Image:IMG 91363.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Macswede|Macswede}}<br />Agesta, near Stockholm, [[Sweden]], 25 August 2012]]
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====Subspecies====
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Clements recognizes these subspecies[[#References|[1]]]:
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*''P. m. montanus'': [[Europe]] to north [[Africa]], northern [[Mongolia]], Manchuria and Sea of Okhotsk
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*''P. m. dybowskii'': Eastern [[Asia]] (lower Amur River to Manchuria and northern [[Korea]])
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*''P. m. transcaucasicus'': Southern [[Caucasus]] (Black Sea coast of [[Georgia]] to northern [[Iran]])
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**Generally duller and greyer above, whiter below
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*''P. m. kansuensis'': Western [[China]] (Zaidam basin and northern Gansu)
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*''P. m. dilutus'': Transcaspia to western [[Pakistan]], Gobi Desert and western [[China]] (Xinjiang)
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*''P. m. tibetanus'': southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau and central China (east to southeastern Qinghai and western Sichuan)
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*''P. m. saturatus'': east central and southeastern [[China]], [[Taiwan]], southern [[South Korea]], southern Kuril Islands, and [[Japan]] south to the Ryukyu Islands
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*''P. m. hepaticus'': extreme northeastern India (southeastern Arunachal Pradesh) and adjacent southern China (southeastern Xizang)
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*''P. m. malaccensis'': Central [[Myanmar]], [[Malaya]], Hainan, [[Vietnam]] and western [[Indonesia]]
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Subspecies ''iubilaeus'' and ''obscuratus'' are both considered [[Dictionary P-S#S|synonym]]s of subspecies ''saturatus''.
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[[Image:IMG 5174 Tree Sparrow in flight .jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|trev4|Trevor Stevenson}}<br />[[Staffordshire]], [[England]], 6 November 2011]]
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Open woodland and along woodland edges, parkland and farmland with copses and hedgerows. Also in urban areas where House Sparrow is absent.
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Open woodland and along woodland edges, parkland and farmland with copses and hedgerows. In parts of the range quite frequent in suburbs or even in urban areas.
 +
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Secondary cavity nester. Not aggressive or pugnacious like the HOSP, but may attempt to claim a box used by another bird
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Highly gregarious, this bird prefers the vicinity of humans.
 +
====Diet====
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Feeds mainly on seed of herbs, grasses and cereals. Takes also animal food like spiders and insects during breeding season.
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====Breeding====
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Secondary cavity nester. Not aggressive or pugnacious like the [[House Sparrow]], but may attempt to claim a box used by another bird. The clutch consists of four to six eggs which are quite variable in their markings. There may be a second brood.
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====Vocalisation====
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{{ Audio|Passer montanus (song).mp3 }}
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''[[Media:Passer montanus (song).mp3|Listen to Eurasian Tree Sparrow sound clip]]''
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#{{Ref-GillDonskerRasmussen22V13.2}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}}#The Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs ISBN 0723200602
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#Barlow, Jon C. and Sheridan N. Leckie. (2000). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (''Passer montanus''), The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/eutspa
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#Summers-Smith, D. (2017). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (''Passer montanus''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/60946 on 2 June 2017).
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{{ref}}
  
==Bird Song==
 
<flashmp3>Passer montanus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Passer montanus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Passer+montanus}}  
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Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Passer]]
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{{GSearch|"Passer montanus" {{!}} "Eurasian Tree Sparrow" {{!}} "Tree Sparrow" {{!}} "European Tree Sparrow"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Passer]][[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Maps]]

Latest revision as of 17:02, 2 December 2023

Photo © by rayh
Carsington Water, Derbyshire, England, February 2004

Alternative names: Tree Sparrow; European Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Identification

14 - 15 cm. (5½-6 in.) A small, neat-looking sparrow:

  • Chestnut crown and nape
  • White cheeks with a black spot
  • Small black bib not expanding on breast
  • Narrow white neck-collar
  • Black-streaked brown back
  • Distinct white wing-bar
  • Dusky underparts

Sexes are alike. Juvenile is duller with grayish central crown patch blending into reddish brown on the sides of crown and indistinct dark ear-patch.

Variations

The subspecies mainly differ in plumage tones and in size. Those in arid regions tend to be paler (eg. dilutus), those in tropical humid areas darker (eg. malaccensis)

Similar Species

House Sparrow has a grey head and lacks the white cheeks.

Distribution

Map-Eurasian Tree Sparrow.jpg
Widespread from Europe east over Russia to China and southeast Asia. Introduced populations in Australia and the US (St. Louis, Missouri).

In Europe breeds in coastal Ireland and Britain (but rather uncommon in the north), and from western France, north and eastern Iberia east across Europe to the Urals and Caspian reaching coastal and southern Scandinavia, the Baltic States and the White Sea. In the south occurs on the Mediterranean coasts of Spain and France, Italy and Sicily, the Balkans, patchily in west, central and northern Turkey and the Caucasus. Formerly bred in the Faroes and has bred Morocco, recently in Malta and Gozo] introduced to Sardinia. Rare breeder in the Canary Islands, found only on Gran Canaria.
Resident or partial migrant over most of range and winter visitor to the larger Mediterranean islands. Vagrants recorded in Gibraltar and North-West Africa, Egypt and Israel.

Legend

Passer montanus; year-round
Maps/Texts consulted3

Taxonomy

Juvenile
Photo © by Macswede
Agesta, near Stockholm, Sweden, 25 August 2012

Subspecies

Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:

  • P. m. montanus: Europe to north Africa, northern Mongolia, Manchuria and Sea of Okhotsk
  • P. m. dybowskii: Eastern Asia (lower Amur River to Manchuria and northern Korea)
  • P. m. transcaucasicus: Southern Caucasus (Black Sea coast of Georgia to northern Iran)
    • Generally duller and greyer above, whiter below
  • P. m. kansuensis: Western China (Zaidam basin and northern Gansu)
  • P. m. dilutus: Transcaspia to western Pakistan, Gobi Desert and western China (Xinjiang)
  • P. m. tibetanus: southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau and central China (east to southeastern Qinghai and western Sichuan)
  • P. m. saturatus: east central and southeastern China, Taiwan, southern South Korea, southern Kuril Islands, and Japan south to the Ryukyu Islands
  • P. m. hepaticus: extreme northeastern India (southeastern Arunachal Pradesh) and adjacent southern China (southeastern Xizang)
  • P. m. malaccensis: Central Myanmar, Malaya, Hainan, Vietnam and western Indonesia

Subspecies iubilaeus and obscuratus are both considered synonyms of subspecies saturatus.

Photo © by Trevor Stevenson
Staffordshire, England, 6 November 2011

Habitat

Open woodland and along woodland edges, parkland and farmland with copses and hedgerows. In parts of the range quite frequent in suburbs or even in urban areas.

Behaviour

Highly gregarious, this bird prefers the vicinity of humans.

Diet

Feeds mainly on seed of herbs, grasses and cereals. Takes also animal food like spiders and insects during breeding season.

Breeding

Secondary cavity nester. Not aggressive or pugnacious like the House Sparrow, but may attempt to claim a box used by another bird. The clutch consists of four to six eggs which are quite variable in their markings. There may be a second brood.

Vocalisation

Listen to Eurasian Tree Sparrow sound clip

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
  4. The Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs ISBN 0723200602
  5. Barlow, Jon C. and Sheridan N. Leckie. (2000). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/eutspa
  6. Summers-Smith, D. (2017). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/60946 on 2 June 2017).

Recommended Citation

External Links

Search the Gallery using the scientific name:

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