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Eurasian tree sparrow

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a small passerine bird in the sparrow family Passeridae, typically measuring 15 cm in length with a brown crown, white cheeks accented by a black spot behind the eye, and a modest black bib on the throat.^[1] Native to temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, it thrives in semi-open landscapes including farmlands, woodland edges, orchards, and urban settings from sea level to elevations of 4,400 m.^[2]^[1] This adaptable species forages primarily on seeds of weeds, grasses, and waste grains, supplemented by insects during the breeding season, often in small flocks on the ground or low vegetation.^[1] It nests in cavities such as tree holes or buildings, breeding in loose colonies and laying 4–6 eggs per clutch, with largely sedentary populations in Europe but some movements in central Asia.^[2]^[1] Introduced to North America in the late 19th century near St. Louis, Missouri, it has established limited populations in the Midwest, expanding slowly without displacing native species significantly.^[3] Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, the global population exceeds 200 million mature individuals across an extensive range, though trends are stable or slightly declining in parts of Europe due to agricultural intensification.^[2] Its commensal association with human settlements underscores its resilience, yet it faces competition from the more aggressive house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in some introduced areas.^[3]^[2]

Taxonomy

Etymology and classification

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a passerine bird classified in the order Passeriformes, family Passeridae, genus Passer, and species montanus.^[4]^[5] This placement reflects its morphological and genetic affinities with other Old World sparrows, distinguishing it from New World sparrows in the family Passerellidae.^[5] The species was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae published on 1 February 1758, under the binomial Passer montanus, based on specimens from Europe.^[4] The genus name Passer originates from the Latin term for "sparrow," a root denoting small, agile birds observed in antiquity.^[6] The specific epithet montanus derives from Latin montanus, meaning "of the mountains" or "mountain-dwelling," alluding to the bird's frequent association with wooded hillsides and upland habitats rather than strictly alpine environments.^[6]^[7] Subsequent taxonomic revisions, including genetic analyses, have upheld its status as a distinct species within Passer, with no major reclassifications altering its core placement since Linnaeus's description.^[8]

Subspecies

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is divided into nine subspecies, primarily distinguished by clinal variations in plumage saturation, size, and bill morphology across its extensive Eurasian range. These taxa reflect adaptations to diverse habitats from temperate woodlands to subtropical lowlands, with darker, more richly colored forms generally occurring in eastern and southern populations compared to paler western ones. Taxonomic recognition follows syntheses such as Dickinson and Christidis (2014), which consolidate earlier proposals amid debates over the validity of up to 33 named forms based on limited specimens.^[8] The nominate subspecies, P. m. montanus (Linnaeus, 1758), inhabits Europe eastward through northern and central Asia to northeastern Siberia and northeastern Mongolia, including populations in northern Africa as vagrants or marginal breeders.^[4] P. m. dybowskii (Domaniewski, 1915) ranges from southeastern Siberia and northeastern China to northern Korea, showing slightly darker upperparts than the nominate.^[9] P. m. transcaucasicus (Zarudny, 1890) is confined to eastern Turkey, the Caucasus, northern Iran, and northern Afghanistan, with reduced white in the cheek patches.^[4] P. m. dilutus (Swinhoe, 1870) occupies Transcaspia through western Pakistan, the Gobi Desert, and northern to central China, characterized by paler, more washed-out plumage suited to arid steppes.^[4] P. m. kansuensis (Meise, 1935) breeds in northeastern China, with intermediate tones between dilutus and eastern forms.^[10] P. m. tibetanus (Swinhoe, 1870) occurs in the Tibetan Plateau and northeastern India, featuring high-altitude adaptations including larger size.^[9] P. m. saturatus (Swinhoe, 1863), the darkest subspecies, spans eastern Siberia to Japan, southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and northern Borneo, with intensely rich chestnut crowns and extensive black markings.^[8]^[4] Southern forms include P. m. hepaticus (Sykes, 1832), found from northeastern India to southwestern China and northern Indochina, with warm rufous tones in the underparts.^[10] P. m. malaccensis (Robinson and Kloss, 1919) ranges from central Myanmar through the Malay Peninsula, Vietnam, Hainan, and western Indonesia, exhibiting the most subdued plumage among tropical populations, possibly due to gene flow with house sparrows (P. domesticus).^[11] Hybridization and ongoing range expansions challenge boundaries between some subspecies, particularly in contact zones like central Asia.^[5]

Description

Physical characteristics

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a small passerine bird, measuring 12.5–14 cm in total length from bill tip to tail tip, with a wingspan of about 21 cm and an average body mass of 24 g, rendering it approximately 10% smaller than the related house sparrow (Passer domesticus).^[12]^[13] These dimensions position it among the smaller members of the sparrow family Passeridae, characterized by a compact, somewhat chubby build with a rounded head and short neck.^[14] The bird's sturdy, conical bill, adapted for cracking seeds, measures roughly 1.1–1.5 cm along the culmen, facilitating its granivorous diet.^[15] Morphometric variation occurs across its range, including differences in wing chord length (typically 7.0–7.8 cm), tail length (around 5.5–6.5 cm), and tarsus length (1.6–1.9 cm), with larger-bodied individuals often found in northern populations due to Bergmann's rule effects on avian morphology.^[8] Such traits reflect adaptations to diverse Eurasian habitats, though introduced populations, like those in North America, show morphometric similarity to European source stocks with minimal divergence in size metrics.^[16] Juveniles exhibit slightly smaller overall dimensions and softer contours compared to adults, transitioning to mature proportions post-fledging.^[14]

Plumage and sexual dimorphism

The plumage of adult Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) is characterized by a rich chestnut crown and nape, white cheeks each marked with a distinct black patch, and a black bib on the throat. The upperparts consist of rich brown feathers streaked with black, while the underparts are pale greyish-white. Wings feature brown plumage with prominent white bars, and the tail is brown.^[17]^[14] Sexual dimorphism in plumage is minimal, rendering males and females visually indistinguishable in the field under typical conditions. Both sexes share the same pattern and coloration, differing from the more pronounced dimorphism observed in the closely related house sparrow (Passer domesticus).^[17]^[14] Subtle intersexual differences have been documented in specific traits, including the size of the black throat badge, which tends to be larger in males and may function in status signaling during aggressive interactions. Wing length also exhibits sexual variation, with males averaging longer wings, though these morphological distinctions require measurement for reliable sex determination and are not apparent through plumage color or pattern alone.^[18]^[19]

Distribution and habitat

Native range

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is native to temperate and subtropical regions across Eurasia, with its range extending from the Iberian Peninsula and France in western Europe eastward through central and eastern Europe, across the Russian plains and Siberia to the Pacific coast, including Japan. In Europe, it occupies most continental areas south of about 65°N, including southern Scandinavia but excluding Iceland, while in Asia it spans from the Lena River basin southward to northern India, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia.^[20]^[2]^[21] Populations in the British Isles, though established since the late 19th century, are not part of the native range, deriving from deliberate introductions rather than natural colonization. The species' distribution reflects adaptation to varied environments, from open farmlands and woodlands to semi-urban areas, with resident populations throughout most of its native extent and limited migration in northern peripheries.^[20]^[2]

Introduced populations and range expansion

The Eurasian tree sparrow has established introduced populations in North America, Australia, Bermuda, the Philippines, Borneo, and Sulawesi following human-mediated releases.^[21]^[22] In North America, 20 to 24 birds imported from Germany were released in Lafayette Park, St. Louis, Missouri, on April 25, 1870, by a local bird dealer to provide familiar species for European immigrants.^[20]^[5] These individuals, belonging to the nominate subspecies P. m. montanus, bred successfully and formed a persistent population initially confined to the St. Louis region, spanning eastern-central Missouri and western Illinois.^[8]^[23] The population remained stable for decades with limited spread until expansions accelerated in the 1960s, reaching northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, followed by further northward advances in the 1990s.^[24] Recent monitoring shows continued growth and range extension, including a northward shift of approximately 125 km in the Midwest, supported by increasing eBird records in adjacent states.^[25]^[26]^[3] In Australia, the species occupies a restricted area in southeastern regions, primarily Victoria and adjacent parts of New South Wales, stemming from multiple independent introductions of uncertain precise dates and origins.^[27]^[28] Genetic and epigenetic analyses indicate separate founding events at distinct sites, with varying levels of diversity (epi-h range 0.16–0.44), but overall limited geographic expansion beyond agricultural and urban habitats.^[28] Introduced populations elsewhere, such as Bermuda and Southeast Asian islands, persist at smaller scales with scant documentation of significant range increases, often overshadowed by competition from the more widespread house sparrow.^[22]^[29] Unlike some Old World congeners, Eurasian tree sparrows in these non-native areas have not demonstrated rapid invasive spread, attributable to small founder numbers and habitat constraints.^[3]

Behavior

Breeding and reproduction

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is socially monogamous, with pairs forming from September to November; breeding adults often return to previously used nest sites in early to mid-autumn, where they are joined by young birds.^[30] Nest sites are primarily cavities, including natural tree holes, crevices in buildings, nest boxes, street lamps, rocky fissures, and earth banks, typically positioned 1–10 meters above ground and showing a preference for locations adjacent to wetland habitats while avoiding intensively managed farmland.^[31]^[32] Both sexes construct the nest using grass, straw, feathers, and other soft materials.^[33] Clutch sizes range from 4 to 7 eggs, with 5 or 6 being typical; eggs are white to pale gray, densely marked with spots or blotches, and laid at a rate of one per day.^[33]^[34] Incubation commences with the laying of the penultimate or final egg and lasts 10–15 days (average 11–12 days), performed primarily by the female at night, though both sexes cover the eggs during the day—the male lacks a brood patch and provides less effective incubation.^[31]^[30] Hatching is largely synchronous within hours for smaller clutches but may span 1–3 days for larger ones.^[30] Nestlings are altricial, naked, and helpless at hatching; both parents feed them invertebrates and seeds, with fledging occurring 12–14 days post-hatching, after which parental provisioning continues for about one week.^[33]^[1] The full breeding cycle from egg-laying to fledging spans 28–31 days, and pairs may raise 2–3 broods per season, with colonial breeders often producing more eggs and fledglings in initial broods compared to solitary pairs.^[35]^[36] Extra-pair paternity occurs, influencing parental investment, but social pairs maintain biparental care throughout.^[37]

Foraging and diet

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) primarily forages on the ground, often in small flocks, gleaning seeds from soil surfaces or scratching lightly to uncover them, with occasional use of low vegetation or shrubs for insects.^[38] This behavior aligns with its opportunistic exploitation of human-modified landscapes, such as farmlands and urban edges, where it favors areas with abundant spilled grains or weed seeds over dense woodlands.^[39] Adult diet consists mainly of plant material, dominated by cereal grains including wheat, barley, oats, rye, and corn, supplemented by seeds of wild grasses and forbs, particularly from late autumn through early spring when invertebrate availability declines.^[38] In agricultural settings, it readily consumes components of commercial bird seed mixes and crop residues, reflecting its commensal association with human activity.^[38] Arthropods form a smaller portion of the adult diet but increase during breeding to support energy demands, with occasional intake of small fruits or specialized items like elm seeds during mast events.^[40] Nestlings receive a protein-rich diet, with arthropods comprising the bulk—often over 70% by volume in samples from European studies—delivered via regurgitation by parents who target soft-bodied invertebrates like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders from field margins or wetlands.^[41] Dietary diversity for nestlings correlates with habitat heterogeneity; in agri-environment schemes with enhanced invertebrate habitats, key prey items such as aphids and orthopterans are more prevalent, broadening the niche breadth compared to intensive arable fields, based on neck-collar sampling of 299 boluses across Polish sites.^[41] Seeds appear sporadically in nestling food (under 30% in some analyses), indicating parental selectivity for animal matter to optimize chick growth.^[42] The song of the Eurasian tree sparrow consists of a rhythmic, chattering sequence of calls delivered with a conversational quality that can persist for extended durations.^[43] Its vocal repertoire includes at least nine distinct adult call types, identified through spectrographic analysis across various contexts: contact calls (with multiple subtypes for maintaining flock cohesion), fight-intention calls, aerial calls during flight, alarm or anxiety calls, emergency calls, warning or threat calls, stimulate calls, screaming calls, and social calls used in communal interactions.^[44] Chicks produce begging calls to solicit food from adults.^[44] These calls support communication within flocks, reflecting the species' complex social dynamics, and may adapt in frequency or structure to environmental noise, such as urban or insect sounds, to enhance transmission.^[45] Eurasian tree sparrows exhibit high gregariousness year-round outside the breeding season (March to early July), forming flocks typically comprising 15–20 individuals, though larger groups occur in foraging or roosting contexts like farms or urban parks.^[46] In winter flocks, they establish stable linear dominance hierarchies through aggressive interactions, including attacks and threat displays, which stabilize within days in captive settings via over 1,000 observed agonistic encounters among groups of 19 birds.^[47] Males display aggression more frequently than females (mean 91.63 vs. 28.90 acts), particularly in mixed-sex dyads, with hierarchy rank correlating to morphological traits such as longer bill-nose length for attacks, larger throat badge size for threats, and tarsus length overall.^[47] Higher-ranking individuals rely more on threats than physical attacks to maintain status, facilitating organized social foraging and reducing conflict in dense flocks.^[47] These hierarchies underscore status signaling via badges and body size, aiding cohesion in non-breeding aggregations.^[47]

Migration and movements

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is primarily sedentary across much of its native range in Eurasia, with populations maintaining year-round residency in suitable habitats.^[48] In temperate and southern regions, individuals exhibit limited movements, often remaining within a few kilometers of breeding sites throughout the year.^[48] Northern populations, particularly in Fennoscandia and parts of central Europe, display partial migratory behavior, with a minor proportion undertaking short- to medium-distance southward shifts during winter to avoid harsh conditions.^[48] These movements are irregular and limited, typically involving juveniles dispersing post-breeding, with birds relocating distances of under 100 km in many cases, though some Fennoscandian individuals may travel farther within their countries.^[48]^[49] Introduced populations in North America, such as those in the central United States originating from 19th-century releases near St. Louis in 1870, are non-migratory and permanent residents, showing no significant seasonal relocation.^[1] Dispersal is most pronounced among first-year birds following the breeding season, contributing to gradual range expansions rather than large-scale migrations; adults tend to exhibit strong site fidelity to natal or breeding territories.^[48] Vagrancy occurs sporadically, with records of individuals appearing outside the core range, such as in the Faroe Islands or Estonia, often linked to weather-driven wanderings rather than directed migration.^[2] No evidence supports irruptive movements akin to those in finches, with overall patterns reflecting opportunistic, weather-influenced local shifts over long-distance travel.^[48]

Physiology and ecology

Physiological adaptations

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) demonstrates pronounced seasonal acclimatization in its metabolic physiology to withstand cold temperatures in its temperate native range, primarily through elevations in basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass during winter. Winter-acclimatized individuals exhibit BMR values approximately 30-50% higher than in summer, coupled with increased dry mass of key organs such as the liver, heart, gizzard, and intestines, which support enhanced thermogenic capacity and energy processing.^[50]^[51] This adjustment facilitates non-shivering thermogenesis, as evidenced by heightened activity of mitochondrial respiratory enzymes like cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and citrate synthase (CS) in skeletal muscle and liver, alongside upregulated expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α).^[52]^[53] In response to cold exposure, the species also modulates hormonal and biochemical markers, including elevated plasma triiodothyronine (T3) levels, which correlate with increased thermogenic enzyme activity and organ hypertrophy.^[50] Experimental acclimation to short photoperiods and low temperatures (e.g., 10°C under 8L:16D conditions) induces similar phenotypic shifts, with birds showing 15-20% increases in body mass (M_b) and BMR compared to warm, long-day controls, underscoring photoperiod-temperature interactions in physiological tuning.^[54] These adaptations prioritize energy conservation and heat production over reproduction during non-breeding seasons, reflecting a causal trade-off where thermoregulatory demands override gonadal development under energetic stress.^[55] Conversely, under acute heat stress (e.g., 35-40°C), tree sparrows attenuate metabolic heat production by reducing BMR and resting metabolic rate (RMR), alongside decreased activities of thermogenic enzymes such as COX and CS in pectoralis muscle.^[56] This is accompanied by bolstered antioxidant defenses, including elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, to counteract oxidative damage from hyperthermia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS).^[56] Latitudinal populations further illustrate physiological plasticity, with middle- and high-latitude birds displaying higher peak metabolic rates and organ-specific enzyme enhancements relative to low-latitude counterparts, enabling adaptation to colder climates without corresponding morphological changes like larger body size.^[57]^[58] Urban environments elicit additional metabolic tweaks, such as altered glucolipid profiles with elevated free fatty acids and triglycerides in plasma, likely reflecting dietary shifts toward human-associated foods that demand adjusted lipid mobilization for sustained flight and foraging.^[59] These physiological responses collectively underscore the species' resilience to environmental variability, grounded in flexible mitochondrial function and endocrine signaling rather than fixed morphological traits.^[54]

Predators, parasites, and diseases

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is preyed upon by various raptors, including the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), and little owl (Athene noctua).^[12] Mammalian predators such as domestic cats (Felis catus) and rats (Rattus spp.) target adults and nestlings, while snakes like the black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta) consume eggs and young.^[46] Ectoparasites and endoparasites infest Eurasian tree sparrows, with gastrointestinal parasites identified in populations from Indonesia and the Philippines.^[60] ^[61] Blood parasites, including Haemoproteus (most prevalent), Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium, affect approximately 29% of individuals in studied groups, while intestinal protozoans and helminths occur in about 4%.^[62] These infections exert selective pressure on host fitness, influencing survival and reproduction.^[63] Diseases such as salmonellosis have caused mass mortality events, including an outbreak in Hokkaido, Japan, during 2005–2006 that killed numerous wild individuals.^[64] Experimental infections demonstrate susceptibility to velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), which can be fatal.^[65] Eurasian tree sparrows are also vulnerable to highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), capable of transmission via direct contact or inoculation under laboratory conditions.^[66] Predation, parasitism, and disease contribute to an average lifespan of about two years in the wild.^[67]

Interspecific interactions

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) primarily competes with the congeneric house sparrow (P. domesticus) for nesting cavities and food resources, given their similar body sizes, diets, and habitat preferences. In regions of sympatry, such as parts of Europe, tree sparrows actively defend nest holes against intrusions by house sparrows, which can reduce competitive displacement and support persistent local populations of the former.^[68] However, house sparrows, being larger and more aggressive, often dominate urban settings, displacing tree sparrows to rural or less human-modified habitats.^[5] ^[69] Empirical studies on population dynamics in agricultural landscapes, such as southern Finland from 1977 to 2006, have tested for interspecific competition but found limited evidence that house sparrow declines directly benefit tree sparrow increases, suggesting other factors like habitat quality play larger roles.^[70] Similarly, long-term monitoring in urban-rural gradients across multiple European sites (1970–2019) detected no significant competitive effects between the species on overall abundance trends.^[71] Foraging overlap appears minimal, as tree sparrows preferentially select smaller seeds like millet, reducing resource contention with house sparrows that exploit a broader size range.^[72] In urban avian assemblages, aggressive interspecific interactions involving tree sparrows contribute to community structuring, with conflicts over perches and food potentially limiting coexistence with other small passerines.^[73] Tree sparrows occasionally usurp nests of other species, including colonial breeders like barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) or martins, though such behavior is opportunistic and not a primary interaction mode.^[34] Habitat modifications, such as increased structural complexity, can alter these dynamics by favoring tree sparrows in heterogeneous environments over uniform urban ones dominated by house sparrows.^[69]

Relationships with humans

Historical introductions

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) has been intentionally introduced by humans to multiple regions beyond its native Palearctic range, primarily during the 19th and early 20th centuries as part of broader efforts to acclimatize European bird species to new environments for aesthetic, ecological, or agricultural reasons. These introductions often involved small numbers of individuals sourced from European or Asian populations, reflecting the era's limited understanding of invasion biology and potential ecological disruptions. Successful establishments remain limited, with populations persisting in isolated pockets rather than widespread expansions seen in congeners like the house sparrow (P. domesticus). The most thoroughly documented introduction occurred in North America, where 20–24 birds of the nominate subspecies (P. m. montanus), imported from Germany, were released on April 25, 1870, in Lafayette Park, St. Louis, Missouri, by local bird dealer and enthusiast Karl (or Charles) Brehm. This action was motivated by a desire to furnish European settlers with familiar avian companions amid urban expansion, akin to contemporaneous releases of other Old World species. The founding cohort rapidly bred, establishing a viable population centered in eastern-central Missouri and extending into adjacent southeastern Illinois, where it has endured with minimal gene flow from native Eurasian stocks and little range expansion until recent decades—covering roughly 100,000 km² by the late 20th century. Genetic analyses confirm low diversity in this population relative to source German groups, attributable to a severe bottleneck from the small founder size.^[5]^[20]^[74] Additional historical introductions targeted Southeast Asia and Oceania, including the Philippines (where populations persist in urban and agricultural settings), Borneo, Sulawesi (Celebes), and Australia, though precise dates, release sizes, and origins for these remain sparsely recorded in ornithological literature, often conflated with house sparrow efforts. In Australia, tree sparrows established in eastern states, likely via ports in the late 19th century, but without verified founder events paralleling the North American case. Attempts in Bermuda, Micronesia, and New Zealand failed, with extirpations attributed to unsuitable habitat, predation, or competition. These non-native populations generally occupy human-modified landscapes like farms and towns, mirroring native preferences, but have not triggered major ecological shifts documented in primary records.^[21]^[22]

Ecological and economic impacts

The Eurasian tree sparrow exerts limited ecological impacts in its introduced ranges, such as North America, Australia, and Pacific islands, where it competes with native and other introduced birds for nesting cavities and food resources like seeds and insects, but without evidence of widespread native species declines. In Iowa, for instance, it shows negligible effects on local avian communities despite established populations. It consumes native invertebrates, which could locally influence arthropod populations, though this is offset by its predation on invasive insect pests. In some Pacific locales, it has been displaced by the more aggressive house sparrow (Passer domesticus), reducing its own invasive potential.^[29]^[75] Economically, the species functions as a crop pest across parts of Eurasia and introduced areas, targeting grains, seeds, and seedlings, which incurs quantifiable agricultural losses. In Europe, Passer montanus contributes to bird damage on sunflower crops, with attacks during seedling emergence and maturation causing up to 100% yield loss in affected Romanian plots (e.g., 0 kg/ha in a 2.5-ha field), translating to net losses exceeding 3,800 Romanian lei per hectare after input costs. In Asia, it damages rice fields, including feed rice for poultry in the Philippines, where flocks deplete supplies and reduce farmer revenues. Severe depredation on unspecified crops has been noted in the Marshall Islands, prompting management concerns. Large communal roosts may also foul urban water catchments via droppings, though such contamination remains sporadically documented.^[76]^[77]^[29]

Conservation and population dynamics

Global and regional status

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its extensive breeding range spanning much of the Palearctic from western Europe to eastern Asia and Japan, combined with a large estimated global population of 215–305 million mature individuals based on 2011 data of poor quality.^[2] The global population trend remains unknown, but the species does not meet criteria for higher threat categories under population decline thresholds, owing to its adaptability to varied habitats including urban areas, farmland, and woodland edges across its native range.^[2] In Europe, the breeding population is estimated at 26.8–38 million pairs, equivalent to 53.7–76 million mature individuals, with a small overall decline observed over the past decade primarily linked to intensified agricultural practices such as increased pesticide and herbicide use, shifts to autumn-sown cereals, and loss of hedgerows and woodlots that reduce nesting and foraging opportunities.^[2] Declines have been more pronounced in western and central Europe, while populations in eastern Europe and Fennoscandia show stability or expansion, potentially due to less severe habitat alterations in those regions.^[2] Across Asia, where the species is most abundant and widespread in urban and rural settings from China to Southeast Asia, no quantified population estimates are available, but trends appear stable given the lack of reported widespread declines and the bird's tolerance for human-modified landscapes.^[2] Introduced populations outside the native range, such as in North America—initially established from 20 individuals released in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1870—remain small but are expanding, with a documented 5.8% annual increase in breeding abundance in Illinois from 1966–2015 and ongoing range extensions into adjacent states via natural dispersal.^[78] These non-native populations face displacement from urban cores by the more aggressive house sparrow (Passer domesticus) but persist in suburban and rural fringes.^[78]

Threats, trends, and management

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its vast native range across Eurasia and large estimated global population of 215–305 million mature individuals.^[2] Population trends are stable overall and not approaching thresholds for vulnerability, though regional variations exist; in its introduced North American range, numbers have increased at 5.8% annually in areas like Illinois, accompanied by ongoing midwestern expansion.^[2]^[78] In Europe, where the species numbers 53.7–76 million mature individuals, a small overall decline has occurred over the past decade, with populations decreasing in 12 countries but rising in 9 others.^[2]^[71] Declines in western Europe stem primarily from agricultural intensification, including widespread pesticide and herbicide applications that diminish invertebrate prey, as well as the shift to autumn-sown cereals, which curtails winter seed spillage from stubble fields previously available as foraging grounds.^[2] These factors reduce breeding-season insect availability for nestlings and adult survival through winter food scarcity.^[2] Urban expansion has prompted some compensatory increases in human-modified habitats, as observed in Spain, though the species generally avoids dense city centers compared to the house sparrow.^[79] Interspecific competition, particularly displacement from urban niches by the more aggressive house sparrow (Passer domesticus), contributes to localized shifts.^[78] Conservation management is limited given the species' secure global status, focusing instead on monitoring via systematic surveys in Europe and North America to track trends.^[2] In declining European regions, proposed actions emphasize habitat enhancements, such as fostering invertebrate-rich wetlands and promoting diverse land-use mosaics to bolster food resources, alongside agri-environment schemes that mitigate pesticide impacts and preserve overwinter stubbles.^[2] The species appears on the UK's Red List since 1996, prompting targeted research into demographic drivers, but no large-scale interventions like nest-box programs are widely implemented due to its adaptability and abundance elsewhere.^[2]

References

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Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Audubon Field Guide
Eurasian Tree Sparrow ; IUCN Status. Least Concern ; Habitat. Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Urban and Suburban Habitats.
[2]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer Montanus Species Factsheet
In the west of its range, Eurasian Tree Sparrow is found mainly in cultivated areas with hedgerow trees, orchards, gardens and farmyards, while it is less ...
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Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus - Birds of the World
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is most frequently associated with wooded urban parkland, farms, and rural woodlots.
[4]
Passer montanus (Eurasian Tree Sparrow) - Avibase
Classification. Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae Genus: Passer Scientific: Passer montanus. Original description. Citation: (Linnaeus, C 1758). Reference ...
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Eurasian Tree Sparrow - All About Birds
Eurasian Tree Sparrows are rather easily found in thick hedgerows, bushy parks, and around working farms and grain elevators within its range.Missing: IUCN | Show results with:IUCN<|separator|>
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Passer montanus - Monaco Nature Encyclopedia
Jan 16, 2019 · The etymology of the name gets origin from the Latin with Passer rom the homonymous term with meaning of sparrow and the species montanus ...
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Passer Montanus - English Definition & Meaning - WordZo
Etymology. The genus name *Passer* is Latin for "sparrow." The species name *montanus* is also Latin, meaning "of the mountains" or "pertaining to mountains." ...
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Systematics - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Passer montanus saturatus Sakhalin, S Kurils, Japan, S Korea, Ryukyu Is, Taiwan, Philippines, N Borneo and N Indonesian islands.
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Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus - Observation.org
Subspecies · montanus - Europe through n, c Asia to ne Siberia and ne Mongolia · dybowskii - se Siberia, ne China and n Korea · transcaucasicus - e Turkey, the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[10]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Birds of Singapore
Scientific Name: Passer montanus ; Range: Widespread across Europe and Asia. ; Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: montanus, dybowskii, transcaucasicus, ...
[11]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow [malaccensis or hepaticus] - Avibase
Geographic range: Passer montanus malaccensis: central Myanmar, Malaya, Hainan, Vietnam, and western Indonesia; Passer montanus hepaticus: far northeastern ...
[12]
Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) - Thai National Parks
montanus), the nominate subspecies, ranges across Europe except southwestern Iberia, southern Greece, and the former Yugoslavia. It also breeds in Asia east to ...
[13]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia ...
They predominantly eat seeds and grain including chickweeds, goosefoot, and spilled grain. They may also visit feeding stations, especially for peanuts.
[14]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Identification - All About Birds
Across the species' large range in Eurasia, ornithologists recognize between 9 and 33 subspecies, which differ moderately in plumage tones and in size. Species ...
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Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus - Birds - NatureGate - LuontoPortti
Appearance. Smaller and more slender than the similar House Sparrow. · Size. Length 12.5–14 cm, weight 22–24 g. · Nest. In nest-boxes or holes in buildings, made ...Missing: wingspan | Show results with:wingspan
[16]
[PDF] Comparisons Between Morphometric and Genetic Differentiation ...
Dec 1, 1987 · A comparison of the North American and European populations of Passer montanus with considerations of some factors affecting their morphology.
[17]
Plumages, Molts, and Structure - Eurasian Tree Sparrow
May 22, 2024 · No plumage differences have been observed between North American ... Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), version 1.0. In Birds of ...
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Status signalling in male but not in female Eurasian Tree Sparrows ...
Oct 14, 2016 · In this study we tested the signalling function of a plumage trait present in both sexes in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus. The black ...
[19]
https://meridian.allenpress.com/wjo/article-abstract/134/3/464/484901/Intersexual-differences-in-the-monomorphic
[20]
Distribution - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Widespread across Eurasia from British Isles, southern Scandinavia, and northeastern Russia (southern Kola Peninsula) east across northern Siberia (north to ...
[21]
Passer montanus - NatureServe Explorer
RESIDENT: from British Isles, northern Scandinavia, northern Russia, and northern Siberia south to the Mediterranean, Iran, Afghanistan, northern India, ...Missing: subspecies | Show results with:subspecies
[22]
Status of the North American Population of the European Tree ... - jstor
History And Distribution Of The North American Population. Passer montanus has been introduced into the Philippines, Australia,. Bermuda, and a number of ...<|separator|>
[23]
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW - Birds of Nebraska – Online
Jun 17, 2018 · The introduced North American population is derived from some 20 birds released in St. Louis, Missouri in 1870; these birds were thought to be ...
[24]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow: historical report - Net Results
Feb 5, 2019 · It is not native to North America, as the name indicates, but since 1870 a population has been established near St. Louis, MO. Twenty birds were ...
[25]
Range expansion by <i>Passer montanus</i> in North America
Oct 8, 2016 · The North American population of P. montanus is now growing in size and expanding in geographic distribution, having expanded approximately 125 km to the north ...
[26]
Range expansion by Passer montanus in North America
Oct 8, 2016 · Twenty Passer montanus (Eurasian Tree Sparrow) individuals were introduced to North America 1870 at Lafayette Park in St. Louis, Missouri, USA ...
[27]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Wingmate Birds Australia
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is a compact, introduced songbird found in a limited region of southeastern Australia, mainly in Victoria and parts of New South ...
[28]
Epigenetic and genetic variation among three separate introductions ...
Apr 11, 2018 · We did detect significant variation in the level of epigenetic diversity at each sample site throughout Australia (epi-h range = 0.16–0.44), and ...
[29]
[PDF] Eurasian tree sparrow and House sparrow - Pacific Biosecurity
Both species are reported as invasive. Eurasian tree sparrows have been displaced by the later arrival of house sparrows in several locations. Neither species ...
[30]
Breeding - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Usually, hatching of all eggs occurs in a few hours, but larger clutches (5–7 eggs) may take 1–3 d to complete hatching (Summers-Smith 1995 Summers-Smith, J. D. ...
[31]
All About the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) (ETSP)
Contents: Species, Distribution, Diet, Nesting Behavior, Nestboxes, Monitoring, Nesting Timetable, Egg and Nest Photos, More Info. Species: Eurasian Tree ...
[32]
[PDF] Habitat use by breeding Tree Sparrows Passer montanus
Tree Sparrows Passer montanus showed a strong preference for nest-sites adjacent to wetland habitats, and avoidance of sites on intensively managed mixed ...
[33]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Life History - All About Birds
Eurasian Tree Sparrows eat grains, seeds, fruits, flowers, and invertebrates. They forage on the ground, in grasses and bushes, and in the lower parts of trees.
[34]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) · Bill Hubick - The BioFiles
The typical clutch is five or six eggs which hatch in under two weeks. This sparrow feeds mainly on seeds, but invertebrates are also consumed, particularly ...
[35]
Clutch-size, incubation and hatching success in the House Sparrow ...
The complete cycle of nest occupation, from egg-laying to young fledging, takes 28-31 days, with a 36-40 day break between succeeding clutches (Seel, 1968; ...Missing: Eurasian | Show results with:Eurasian
[36]
Yearly and Seasonal Variation of Breeding Parameters in a ...
Apr 1, 2012 · The Tree Sparrow Passer montanus is a hole-nesting passerine, and is found in rural and suburban areas. Tree Sparrows are multi-brooded, with an ...
[37]
Genetic parent-offspring relationships predict sexual differences in ...
In this study, we showed that the relationships between the parental investments of males and females and EPP and CBP are strongly linked with the complex ...
[38]
Diet and Foraging - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Primarily cereal grains, including oats, wheat, barley (Elymus), rye, and corn, as well as seeds of wild plants from late autumn to early spring.Missing: biology | Show results with:biology
[39]
Full article: Foraging habitat selection, diet and nestling condition in ...
In this study, we examined the foraging habitat preferences of adult ... Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus and Reed Bunting Emberiza shoeniculus ...
[40]
(PDF) Tree Sparrows Foraging on Elm Seeds for more than a Month
Aug 6, 2025 · In Denmark, tree sparrows Passer montanus (L.) have also been seen to eat elm seeds that have fallen to the ground (Erritzoe, 2010) .
[41]
The diet of Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus nestlings in ...
Here we provide evidence for a change in nestling diet with increasing wild bird seed coverage and propose a possible mechanism for its negative impact on ...Missing: biology | Show results with:biology
[42]
The diet of Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus nestlings in ...
Aug 8, 2025 · Passer montanus known as omnivorus bird, they eat insect, seed and fruit, but there is no literature that states these birds eat flowers [10] .Missing: behavior | Show results with:behavior
[43]
Sounds and Vocal Behavior - Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https ...
[44]
https://doi.org/10.1177/17581559231174114
[45]
Multiple constraints on urban bird communication: both abiotic ... - NIH
Jul 13, 2021 · Common Tailorbirds (Orthotomus sutorius) and Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) both sang at a higher frequency in urban areas compared ...
[46]
Behavior - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
May 22, 2024 · Degree Of Sociality ... Highly gregarious throughout year except during breeding season, March–early July. Flock size generally 15–20 individuals, ...Missing: flocking hierarchy
[47]
Morphological characteristics convey social status signals in captive ...
Mar 29, 2023 · Intersexual size and plumage differences in tree sparrows (Passer montanus): a morphological study based on molecular sex determination.
[48]
Movements and Migration - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
Mainly sedentary and partially migratory; small amount of dispersal, particularly of juveniles after breeding season. Minor proportion of population in Europe ...
[49]
Bird Migration Atlas
Overall Connectivity for Eurasian Tree Sparrow Fennoscandian and Danish birds move only short-distance in any direction, mostly inside the country except some ...Missing: patterns | Show results with:patterns
[50]
Seasonal acclimatization of metabolism in Eurasian tree sparrows ...
Changes in photoperiod, ambient temperature and food availability trigger seasonal acclimatization in physiology and behavior of many birds. In the present ...
[51]
Seasonal acclimatization of metabolism in Eurasian tree sparrows ...
Acclimatization to winter conditions is an essential prerequisite for survival of small passerines of the northern temperate zone.
[52]
Seasonal variation of metabolic thermogenesis in Eurasian tree ...
These data suggest that tree sparrows mainly coped with cold by enhancing thermogenic capacities through heightened activity of respiratory enzymes and higher ...
[53]
Seasonal Variation of Metabolic Thermogenesis in Eurasian Tree ...
These data suggest that tree sparrows mainly coped with cold by enhancing thermogenic capacities through heightened activity of respiratory enzymes and higher ...
[54]
Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer ...
Sep 13, 2020 · Eurasian Tree Sparrows mainly appear to cope with cold temperatures or short photoperiods by increasing their organ mass and respiratory enzyme ...
[55]
Temperature modulates photoperiodic seasonal responses in the ...
Jun 20, 2018 · We studied the effects of temperature on the photoperiodic regulation of seasonal reproduction and related events in the subtropical tree sparrow at Shillong, ...
[56]
Thermoregulation and antioxidant defense mechanisms in Eurasian ...
May 10, 2024 · We hypothesized that tree sparrows adapt to acute heat stress by altering metabolic heat production and regulating antioxidant capacity. We also ...
[57]
Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal ...
Mar 7, 2023 · Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and ...
[58]
Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal ...
Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude ...
[59]
Adjusting to urban stress: How Eurasian tree sparrows modulate ...
Feb 15, 2025 · The Eurasian tree sparrow (ETS, Passer montanus) is an exemplary ... This efficiency in foraging could result in access to higher-quality diets ...Missing: peer- | Show results with:peer-
[60]
Identification of Ectoparasites and Gastrointestinal Parasites in ...
Mar 28, 2022 · This study aims to determine the prevalence and identify ectoparasite and gastrointestinal parasites in Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer ...
[61]
"Endoparasite of Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus ...
Mary Grace B. Dacuma This study aimed to establish the gastrointestinal parasites present in Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus) of Lipa City, Batangas.
[62]
Assessing Parasite Prevalence and Health Status of the Eurasian ...
It has been noted that the presence of water resources favors breeding sites for vectors of parasites [12,13]. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus ...
[63]
Adaptive strategy in control of ectoparasitic infection in Eurasian tree ...
Dec 5, 2022 · Selection pressure due to parasitic infestation puts adverse effects on birds' fitness concerning survival and reproductive success.
[64]
Mass mortality of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) from ...
An outbreak of salmonellosis in wild passerines caused mass mortality of Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) in Hokkaido, Japan, 2005-06; however, ...
[65]
Susceptibility and Pathogenesis of Eurasian Tree Sparrows ...
The results of the present study suggest that tree sparrows are susceptible to velogenic NDV, and the infection could be fatal.
[66]
Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Risk for H5N1 Virus Spread and Human ...
Our study indicates that under experimental conditions, Eurasian Tree Sparrows are susceptible to H5N1 infection, either by direct inoculation or by contact ...
[67]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - BirdWeather
As with other small birds, infection by parasites and diseases, and predation by birds of prey take their toll, and the typical life span is about two years.
[68]
Persistent Tree Sparrows Passer montanus Can Counteract House ...
Aug 7, 2025 · Since House Sparrows Passer domesticus and Tree Sparrows P. montanus compete for nesting holes, nest defence could potentially be of great ...
[69]
Habitat preferences of two sparrow species are modified by ...
We choose the house sparrow Passer domesticus and the tree sparrow P. montanus, very similar species in terms of body size and diet and common species, as a ...
[70]
Population increase and aspects of colonization of the Tree Sparrow ...
Aug 6, 2025 · ... Passer montanus population has increased significantly... | Find ... We predicted that if interspecific competition between two closely related ...<|separator|>
[71]
Differential Long-Term Population Responses of Two Closely ...
We did not find significant interspecific competition between the study species. ... House Sparrows Passer domesticus and Tree Sparrows Passer montanus: Fine ...
[72]
[PDF] Seed Size Diversity, Bird Species Diversity and ... - OG Bayern
seeds); Tree Sparrows Passer montanus preferred millet, the smallest seeds, and ... There is no evidence of significant competition between them. 3.8. Overlap and ...
[73]
Interspecific conflict structures urban avian assemblages - PNAS
Nov 26, 2018 · ... Passer montanus) in sympatry that might otherwise thrive in cities. ... species for which interspecific interactions are characterized by ...
[74]
GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION AMONG ANCESTRAL AND ...
We compared genetic variation in three introduced North American populations of Passer montanus with an ancestral German population, a native Swedish ...
[75]
[PDF] Invasive Birds in Iowa: Status, Problems, and Threats
Most of the other invasive bird species seem to have little effect on other bird species. ... out Iowa and the third, Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), is.
[76]
[PDF] ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BIRDS' ATTACKS ON SUNFLOWER CROPS
In Europe, damage is caused to sunflower crop by Passeridae (Passer montanus, Passer hispaniolensis), Columbidae (Streptopelia decaocto, Streptopelia turtur) ...
[77]
Application of the Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien ...
Oct 15, 2020 · For example, by eating rice grown for duck feed, the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) causes economic losses for duck farmers in the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[78]
Conservation and Management - Eurasian Tree Sparrow
The trend toward larger and more industrialized farms in the latter half of the 1900s and continued reduction in woodlots may be a key to slow population growth ...
[79]
Long-Term Population Trends of House Sparrow and Eurasian Tree ...
Mar 25, 2023 · The data analysis confirmed the decreasing trend in both species. However, Eurasian Tree Sparrow showed signs of increasing presence in urban ...Missing: peer- | Show results with:peer-