Tree Sparrows in Netherlands
When the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is present in Netherlands, when it nests, and which native Netherlands plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Netherlands
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 24 g
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole
When to expect tree sparrows in Netherlands
The Tree Sparrow lives in Netherlands all year round. Mild, wet winters; hard frosts bring large movements of thrushes and finches.
Temperate maritime, flat and low-lying, with wind off the North Sea.
Nesting in Netherlands
In Netherlands 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 Netherlands plants for tree sparrows
Of the native plants we track for Netherlands, 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 Netherlands all year?
Yes — the Tree Sparrow is resident in Netherlands all year.
When do tree sparrows nest in Netherlands?
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 Netherlands?
Teasel, Common knapweed, Silver birch, Alder are native to Netherlands 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 Netherlands
Sources
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.