Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Caleb G. Putnam Status: Casual (MBRC) this location was seen carrying a feather in May 2007, confirming that nest building did take place.
Three records of one individual Eurasian Tree Sparrow at a farm near Topaz in Ontonagon County spanned the period from 18 April 2006 to 31 May 2007 and are interpreted as probable evidence of breeding, though no hybrids or young were observed. An anomalous record of three individuals in downtown Copper Harbor, Keweenaw County on 5-11 May 2007 provided possible breeding evidence, but no young were observed and the adults presumably disappeared after their weeklong stay. Two final records of a single bird at Whitefish Point during May 2008 and May 2009 provided no breeding evidence. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is a recent addition to Michigan’s avifauna, the first fully Whether the recent spate of records in Michigan documented record occurring only in 2005. represents a wave of new founders from the Closely related to the House Sparrow, this south or relicts of undiscovered birds which had slightly smaller species is native to Europe and been here for some time is unknown. But the Asia where it is widespread. Unlike the House fleeting presence of individuals at such distant Sparrow, the sexes are similar. It was first outposts as Copper Harbor and Whitefish Point introduced to the New World in 1870 in St. does suggest some movement within the state. Louis, Missouri, but it has not enjoyed the An additional, unlikely explanation is that these success of the House Sparrow in colonizing the birds resulted from the release of several species continent. Indeed, the species remains largely of Eurasian songbirds near Chicago, Illinois, at confined to an area encompassing west-central some point in the early 2000s (see discussion in Illinois, southeast Iowa, and eastern Missouri Chu 2005 and Craves 2008). However, previous (Barlow and Leckie 2000). authors appear not to suspect this species as having been involved, and some natal dispersal Distribution is typical in this species (Barlow and Leckie No previous author mentions this species in 2000). Presumably Michigan will continue to Michigan. All historical reports have lacked host small numbers of this species, but it sufficient documentation prior to the discovery remains to be seen whether we will support an of a single adult in Cass County on 2 November established breeding population. 2005 (Putnam 2007). Subsequently, Michigan The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is a human has had seven additional records of this species commensal, preferring wooded parks, farms, from three widely-separated locations (MBRC cities, and other human-modified habitats. It is 2009), three of which provided breeding often found in the company of House Sparrows, evidence for MBBA II. The Cass County bird but is decidedly less competitive in defending likely hybridized with House Sparrows during nest cavity sites from its larger cousin, a fact 2006 as evidenced by the presence of at least which may be related to its limited distribution three hybrid individuals in the fall of 2006 in the New World. (Putnam, in prep.). Additionally, the adult at
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Caleb G. Putnam Status: Casual (MBRC) Breeding Biology America, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Current records of this species span the entire U.S.A. year, and it is a resident non-migratory species Chu, P.C. 2005. Actions of the Michigan Bird in its North American range. The only direct Records Committee for 2004. Michigan evidence of breeding for Michigan was feather Birds and Natural History 12:184-206. carrying which was observed on 4 May 2007 in Craves, J.A. 2008. Current status of European Cass County (D. Johnson, pers. comm.). Hybrid Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) in the young were first observed at this site in August western Great Lakes region. North American of 2006 (Putnam, in prep.). Hybrids of these Birds 62(3): 498-501. two species are known from one other North Lang, A.L. 1992. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow American pairing, in Manitoba (Lang 1992) and population in North America: evolving and from at least 51 occurrences in Europe (Solberg expanding. Birder’s Journal 1:298-307. and Ringsby 1996). The species is often triple- Michigan Bird Records Committee (MBRC) brooded in Illinois (Oehmke 2004), with nest 2009. Michigan Bird Records Committee building occurring mainly between March and Website. June (Barlow and Leckie 2000), and third
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center