Tree Sparrows in Portugal
When the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is present in Portugal, when it nests, and which native Portugal plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Portugal
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 24 g
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole
When to expect tree sparrows in Portugal
The Tree Sparrow lives in Portugal all year round. Mild, wet winters that attract many wintering European songbirds.
Mediterranean with strong Atlantic influence, wetter in the north.
Nesting in Portugal
In Portugal the Tree Sparrow usually nests March–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 Portugal plants for tree sparrows
Of the native plants we track for Portugal, these 3 provide food the Tree Sparrow uses:
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
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 Portugal all year?
Yes — the Tree Sparrow is resident in Portugal all year.
When do tree sparrows nest in Portugal?
Typically March–July. Clutches are 5–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help tree sparrows in Portugal?
Teasel, Silver birch, Alder are native to Portugal 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 Portugal
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.