Tree Sparrow

Characteristics

A small bird about 15cm long, it is one of the most commonly seen species in Japan.

The sexes are the same color, with a dark brown color from the back to the head. The wings are lighter brown than the head, and the underside is even lighter brown. The throat and cheeks are black, and the black spots on the cheeks in particular distinguish them from the New Year's sparrow. The legs are flesh-colored. The beak is black to lead-colored, and some individuals have a yellow base.

Sparrow calls

Their calls sound like "chun, chun," and are muffled and louder than those of Japanese white-eyes.

Ecology

Distributed widely across the Eurasian continent, and can be found in Japan except on remote islands such as the Ogasawara Islands.

They are omnivorous, eating plant seeds and insects. They breed from spring, and build nests in trees as well as on man-made objects such as electric poles and under the roofs of houses.

A two-generation sparrow family lives in a recess in the wall of the apartment where I live.

Habitat

Tama River midstream

Many sparrows can be seen in the riverbed of the Tama River midstream. They move in groups and seem to forage together.

Sparrows come in pairs or families to the electric wires that can be seen from the balcony of my house. In the spring, they build nests in recesses in the walls of the apartment. I have even seen them mating on the banister of a staircase.