The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a small passerine bird that is native to Europe and Asia. Its range stretches from the British Isles in the west to the Pacific coast in the east. Here is a look at where Eurasian tree sparrows live and their preferred habitats.
Native Range
The Eurasian tree sparrow has an extremely large native range that covers most of Europe and temperate Asia. Its breeding range extends from Ireland in the west to Kamchatka in the Russian Far East in the east. The northern boundary of its range runs through Scotland, southern Sweden, Estonia, Moscow, the southern Ural Mountains, and south-central Siberia. The southern edge of its breeding range runs along North Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East, the Himalayas, and China.
Some of the key countries and regions where the Eurasian tree sparrow can be found include:
- Europe: Found across most of Europe including Ireland, Great Britain, Scandinavia, France, Germany, and Russia
- Western Asia: Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan
- Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
- South Asia: Northern India, Nepal, Pakistan
- East Asia: Mongolia, China, Korea, Japan
- Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia
The Eurasian tree sparrow was also successfully introduced by humans to many parts of the world outside its native range. It can now be found in parts of Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, and Africa as an introduced species.
Habitat
The Eurasian tree sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation and cultivation. Its natural breeding habitats include temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and forest edges near human settlements. However, it is more abundant around rural farms, villages, and urban areas.
Preferred habitats include:
- Parks and gardens
- Farmlands and orchards
- Rural villages and suburban areas
- Cities
The Eurasian tree sparrow tends to avoid extensive natural woodlands far from human cultivation. It prefers landscapes with scattered trees near human settlements which provide nesting cavities. It is commonly found around farms, homesteads, villages, towns, and cities where there are trees, shrubs, and other vegetation.
Nesting Habits
The Eurasian tree sparrow usually builds its nests in holes in trees, the walls and roofs of buildings, and nest boxes. Typical nesting sites include:
- Tree cavities
- Crevices in walls or under roof tiles
- Nest boxes
- Gaps behind street signs or advertising boards
- Holes in river embankments
The nest is constructed from dry grass and other plant material and lined with feathers. Clutches contain between 4-6 eggs which are incubated for 11-13 days. The altricial chicks fledge from the nest after 15-18 days.
Diet
Eurasian tree sparrows are omnivorous and feed on a variety of seeds and insects. Major food items include:
- Seeds of cereal crops, weeds, and trees
- Waste grain in farms and around settlements
- Insects and other invertebrates
- Fruit
- Household scraps
They forage for food mostly on the ground in small flocks. In urban areas they often scavenge for crumbs and scraps around outdoor restaurants, markets, and garbage cans.
Migration
Most Eurasian tree sparrow populations are resident and do not migrate long distances. However, some northern and eastern populations migrate south or west from breeding areas in winter. Migratory movements include:
- British breeding birds migrate south to France, Iberia, and North Africa
- Breeding birds in Scandinavia, Russia, and northern China migrate south to more temperate regions
Birds may also make shorter distance altitudinal migrations in mountainous areas like the Himalayas, moving to lower valleys in winter.
Population and Conservation Status
The Eurasian tree sparrow has an extremely large global population estimated at somewhere between 220-350 million individual birds. Its population appears to be stable and may have increased with the spread of agriculture and urbanization over the past two centuries. Due to its huge population and expanding range, the Eurasian tree sparrow is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Population Trends
In Europe, Eurasian tree sparrow numbers increased during the 19th century but saw significant declines in many countries in the later 20th century. Populations appear to be recovering in some regions while declining in others. Current trends include:
- Declining in northwest Europe including Britain and Netherlands
- Increasing in France, Switzerland, the Balkans, and Russia
- Stable or fluctuating elsewhere in Europe
In Asia, the species remains common to abundant over most of its range with stable or increasing populations. However, it has declined in parts of southeast Asia.
Threats and Conservation
Major threats to the Eurasian tree sparrow include:
- Agricultural intensification leading to loss of weed seeds and invertebrates
- Reduction in crop diversity and increased monocultures
- Loss of nesting sites as old trees are removed and buildings renovated
- Competition with house sparrows in urban areas
Conservation actions include providing nest boxes, preserving old trees and buildings as nest sites, and promoting mixed farming. Because it remains so abundant, the Eurasian tree sparrow does not face imminent threats and active conservation efforts are not a priority in most regions at this time.
Conclusion
In summary, the Eurasian tree sparrow is primarily found in Europe and temperate Asia in habitats with scattered trees near human settlements like farms, villages, and cities. Adaptable and abundant, it has thrived alongside agricultural development and urbanization over much of its range, although localized declines have occurred in parts of Europe. Given its large global population, the Eurasian tree sparrow remains one of the most widespread and successful bird species in the world.