Rare bird

I had to look twice.  There are lots of sparrows in the garden but they are all tree sparrows.  This is a bird I have seen here only once before in the last 20 years (in 2000 according to my BTO Garden BirdWatch data) - a house sparrow. House sparrows do live only a mile or so away but because this is a largely woodland setting it seems not to suit them.

As luck would have it, one of the locals popped in to share a seed or two with the stranger.  Lets hope he decides to stick around.  If he does I hope the others tell him about the sparrowhawk!

If you want to make the comparison, here's a better view of the tree sparrow.

Hedge sparrow?

Bird of the week - House sparrow

House sparrows (Passer domesticus) are closely associated with human activities and habitation.  These birds live at Callerton Parkway Metro Station near Newcastle Airport.

They build their nests in the station roofs.  Some are still building while others are obviously feeding young.

This guy is waiting for a train but is supposed to be standing behind the yellow line.

This one is also waiting but hasn't got the idea at all.

As for these two - I didn't think that sort of thing was allowed on the Metro.  And it was all on CCTV.

The only sparrows I see at home are tree sparrows.  I can't find out why house sparrows show such marked sexual dimorphism while in tree sparrows the sexes are alike.

The house sparrow is a common bird and came top in the 2015 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.  However, there are many fewer than there were (71% decline since 1976) and it is on the red list in the UK.

The decline has been more marked in urban areas compared with suburban and rural habitats.  BTO Garden BirdWatch data for the past 20 years suggest that numbers may have stabilised recently, in gardens at least.

Read more about house sparrows here.  Listen to the BBC Radio 4 Tweet of the Day on house sparrow here.