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Tree sparrows look pretty, and the male and female have similar plumages. Crown chocolate brown, the black on the underside of the beak reaches to the eyes, black and slightly angular cheek patches, a white band around the neck. The bright back plumage is greyish brown with black streaks, the belly sparrow grey. On the wings two light bands and  wing base with yellowish feathers. Beak base horn-coloured in winter with a brownish-black tip, eyes brown. Length up to 14 centimeters and weight around 15 grams.

 

The tree sparrow is our ancient countryside sparrow and their numbers haven’t decreased over the years which can also be seen from the camera image. The more towards east or south, the more often we meet them. In West Estonia their population is more sparse, and on the islands tree sparrows are seldom seen. The winter abundance is estimated at more than a couple of hundred thousand birds. Like greenfinches tree sparrows don’t come to the birdfeeder just to snatch a seed but usually spend some more time there. In winter house sparrows often join the tree sparrow groups but tree sparrows move more widely around in search of food. The relations in groups as well as pairs of tree sparrows are permanent.

 

According to researchers tree sparrows and house sparrows can interbreed; the crosses look like tree sparrows.

 

Tree sparrow observations: LINK