Eurasian Tree Sparrow Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesEurasian Tree Sparrow
Adult
Chunky sparrow with a chestnut crown, black throat, and black ear patch.
© Ivan Sjögren / Macaulay LibraryStockholms län [SE-01], November 05, 2019Adult
White cheek with black ear patch is distinctive. Small population introduced from Europe now breeds in a small part of the midwestern U.S.
© Andrew Allen / Macaulay LibraryVictoria, August 07, 2016Flock
Found in large groups except during breeding season.
© JingZu Tu / Macaulay LibraryYilan County, September 21, 2016Similar SpeciesHouse Sparrow
Breeding male
House Sparrows are chunkier than Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Breeding males lacks the Eurasian Tree Sparrow's dark ear patch and white collar. They also have a larger black throat patch and a gray (not rusty) crown.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 16, 2015Similar SpeciesHouse Sparrow
Female
Female House Sparrows lack the black ear patch and rusty crown seen on both juvenile and adult Eurasian Tree Sparrows.
© Douglas Faulder / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, May 07, 2017Similar SpeciesChipping Sparrow
Breeding adult
Chipping Sparrows are smaller with a white eyebrow and black eyeline unlike Eurasian Tree Sparrows, which have a black ear patch.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 04, 2015Similar SpeciesChipping Sparrow
Nonbreeding
Chipping Sparrows are smaller than Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Nonbreeding birds lack the black ear patch seen on both juvenile and adult Eurasian Tree Sparrows.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 15, 2007Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Old World Sparrows(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Passeridae)
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