How long do Eurasian tree sparrows live?
The oldest Eurasian Tree Sparrow on record lived to 13.1 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild Eurasian tree sparrows live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 13.1 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 11 months
- Eggs per clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Broods per year
- 2–3 per season
- Size
- 5.9 in, 0.8 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 2 of 2
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Eurasian Tree Sparrow can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Eurasian tree sparrows usually start breeding at about 11 months old. Each season a pair lays 4–6 eggs and raises 2–3 per season, with eggs taking 12–13 days to hatch.
How Eurasian tree sparrows compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other old world sparrows on this site.
- House Sparrow23 years
More about Eurasian tree sparrows
Frequently asked
How long do Eurasian tree sparrows live?
The longest-lived Eurasian Tree Sparrow on record reached 13.1 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild Eurasian tree sparrows live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Eurasian Tree Sparrow when it first breeds?
Usually about 11 months old.
What is the oldest Eurasian Tree Sparrow ever recorded?
13.1 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Eurasian Tree Sparrow raise in a year?
Pairs lay 4–6 eggs and raise 2–3 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info