A STUDY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GARDEN HABITATS FOR TREE SPARROWS
(The following is from a personal project undertaken for the
University of Birmingham Diploma in Ornithology) Aim of project
To investigate the use made of gardens by Tree Sparrows Passer
montanus by looking at their occurrence in gardens at different
times of the year. This would indicate importance for either
winter survival and/or breeding success. Local records from
north Worcestershire are compared against national data bases.
Distribution and behaviour. There are between 20 and 25 species
in the genus Passer with the higher number being based on the
phylogenetic species concept. The most widespread species are
House Sparrow Passer domesticus and Tree Sparrow. Both are found
throughout the Palearctic and Oriental regions and they have
also reached other parts of the world, often with the help of
man, either by deliberate introduction or accidentally through
ship assisted passage. Both Tree and House Sparrows show a
habitat preference for both