looduskalender.ee

 

 

They are our ancient country sparrows and their number has not decreased over the years – around a couple of hundred thousand in winter. The farther east or south we come, the more often we meet tree sparrows. In western Estonia they are scarcer and on the islands we meet them only rarely. In winter they roam around more widely in search of food, often in mixed flocks with house sparrows.

 

The male and female of the pretty-looking tree sparrows are similar. Top of head is chocolate brown, dark brown eyes shadowed by black plumage. Dark beak colour is a little more yellow in winter than in summer, black under the beak, black patches on the white cheeks. A whitish collar around the neck, there a brownish-grey bright back plumage begins that has black bands, underparts sparrow grey, feet light brown. On the upper part of wings two brighter bands, under wings a yellowish plumage. Body length under 15 centimetres and weight less than 30 grams.

 

Tree sparrows usually arrive as a gang and don’t come to the birdfeeder just to ”grab seeds” but usually spend a little more time there, feeding on the fat balls with gusto.

 

Tree sparrow observations: LINK

 

Tree sparrow