The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is such a familiar and common bird in the UK that it is surprising that it is on the Red List, the highest category of Birds of Conservation Concern. That is because the population has fallen by 64% since 1969. House Sparrows are ever-present in Downlee Lodge garden and in the trees and hedgerows of the Wildlife Site. They nest in the eaves of Downlee Lodge and Downlee Farm house next door. Large family groups of House Sparrows are often seen here.
The Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is much less common than the House Sparrow and its population in the UK has fallen by over 90 % since 1970, so it is not surprising to find that it is on the Red List. We have only observed Tree Sparrows once at Downlee Lodge. That was in November 2019 when we saw two sitting in the garden boundary hedgerow. They were distinguished by their chocolate brown cap and white collar around the back of the neck. We were too slow to take photographs.
Photographs of Sparrows
Click on the photograph for larger images and captions.
Further Information
For further information on the species in this group, please click the links below:
House Sparrow Tree Sparrow
