Tree Sparrows in Spain
When the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is present in Spain, when it nests, and which native Spain plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Spain
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 24 g
- Nest box
- 28 mm hole
When to expect tree sparrows in Spain
The Tree Sparrow lives in Spain all year round. Mild, wetter winters host many northern European migrants — Robins, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.
Mediterranean across most of the country, oceanic in the north (Galicia to the Basque Country) and semi-arid in the south-east.
Nesting in Spain
In Spain 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 Spain plants for tree sparrows
Of the native plants we track for Spain, 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 Spain all year?
Yes — the Tree Sparrow is resident in Spain all year.
When do tree sparrows nest in Spain?
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 Spain?
Teasel, Common knapweed, Silver birch, Alder are native to Spain 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 Spain
Sources
- Tree Sparrow — RSPB bird guide
- Tree Sparrow — BTO BirdFacts
- SEO/BirdLife — Atlas de las aves en época de reproducción
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.