Eurasian Tree Sparrow

In North America, a population of about 15,000 birds has become established around St. Louis and eastern Missouri, and neighbouring parts of Illinois and southeastern Iowa. These sparrows are descended from 12 birds imported from Germany and released in late April, 1870 as part of a project to enhance the native North American avifauna. Within its limited US range, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow has to compete with the House Sparrow in urban centers, and is therefore mainly found in parks, farms, and rural woods. The American population is sometimes referred to as the “German Sparrow” to distinguish it from both the native American Tree Sparrow species and the much more widespread “English” House Sparrow.