Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758)

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 common in light woodland. In the east of its range, it is found increasingly not only in built-up areas, but also in open arid country. In the Russian Far East, where House Sparrow Passer domesticus is absent, Eurasian Tree Sparrow is common in built-up areas and is even found in urban centres. In the north of the range, the breeding season begins in April or May, whilst it begins in January in the extreme south of Asia. The species breeds in loose colonies. The nest is constructed of dried grass and rootlets, lined with feathers and animal fur; it is domed (even when in a hole) with an entrance on the side. The nest is mostly placed in a hole in a tree, earth bank, cliff or artificial structure, sometimes in the base of a large nest of heron (Ardeidae), crow (Corvidae) or bird of prey. Occasionally, the nest is free-standing in a tree, but then usually hidden in thick conifer or creepers. Clutches consist of two to seven eggs. The diet is mainly seeds, preferably smaller seeds of low herbs and grasses, including cultivated cereals, but the species also takes a significant proportion of animal food (Summers-Smith 2016). In Europe, the species is largely sedentary (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). In central Asia, the species makes more pronounced movements. Birds in the extreme north of the range withdraw to the south, while those living in the countryside tend to move into built-up areas (Summers-Smith 2016).