Tree Sparrows in England
When the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 24 g
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect tree sparrows in England
The Tree Sparrow lives in England all year round. Frosts are frequent but prolonged snow is rare in the south; garden feeders carry tits and finches through January and February, and Continental thrushes arrive in hard weather.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England the Tree Sparrow usually nests April–July. Nest site: tree hole or box. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days; chicks fledge after 15–18 days, and pairs raise 2–3 per year.
- Nest box: 28 mm hole. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native England plants for tree sparrows
Of the native plants we track for England, these 4 provide food the Tree Sparrow uses:
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Feeding in the garden
Seeds; insects for chicks.
- Best foods: Seed mix, Millet.
- Feeders: Seed feeder, Open table.
- A farmland bird that responds well to boxes in loose colonies.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are tree sparrows in England all year?
Yes — the Tree Sparrow is resident in England all year.
When do tree sparrows nest in England?
Typically April–July. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help tree sparrows in England?
Teasel, Common knapweed, Silver birch, Alder are native to England and provide food or cover the Tree Sparrow uses.
What nest box does the Tree Sparrow use?
28 mm hole.
Tree Sparrows in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
- Tree Sparrow — RSPB bird guide
- Tree Sparrow — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.