" YOU can help make a difference, get involved... "
PCO Press Room
Sponsors
Past Events
COP15
Link to PCO
American Tree Sparrow
last update: Mar 25, 2009 12:23 PM
Latin name: Spizella arborea
Population: 26 million individuals
Cites classified: Least Concern
Where found: Alaska and northern and central Canada
Age/ life expectancy: 2-3 years
Wingspan: 22-25 cm
Length: 13-15 cm
Weight: 13-25 g
Mating/Breeding: The male defends a territory, and the monogamous pair forms shortly after the birds arrive on the breeding grounds. The nest is an open cup of twigs, grass, and moss, often lined with ptarmigan feathers and other fine material. It is situated on the ground, on grass clumps or hummocks in the open tundra. The female incubates the 4-6 eggs for 12-13 days. Both parents feed the young who leave the nest after 8-10 days and can fly at two weeks of age. The parents continue to feed the young for about two weeks after they leave the nest.
Eggs: 4-5 pale blue or green eggs speckled red-brown
Hibernation: migrates to the northern and central US in the winter
Hunting Habits: forages on the ground or in low bushes
Feed on: seeds, berries, and insects
Predators: northern goshawks, sharp-shinned hawks, screech owls, pygmy owls, cooper’s hawks, american kestrels, weasels, foxes, and red squirrels
Colour/Body: Adults have a rusty cap and grey underparts with a small dark spot on the breast. They have a rusty back with lighter stripes, brown wings with white bars and a slim tail. Their face is grey with a rusty line through the eye. Their flanks are splashed with light brown. They are similar in appearance to the Chipping Sparrow.
Interesting Trivia:
- During the summer, the American Tree Sparrow eats nearly 100% animal matter (mostly insects). In the winter it eats none, turning then to eating entirely seeds and other plant foods.
- A study found that the American Tree Sparrow seems to prefer to look for predators out of its left eye. This preference may be because the right hemisphere of the brain is dominant for processing visual information. Oddly, the Dark-eyed Juncos examined in the same study preferred to look out of their right eyes.
