The Story
On March 28, 2018, I photographed this Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) in Zhangye, Gansu, China, beside the Zhangye National Wetland Park. It has a rich chestnut crown and a black, kidney-shaped patch on each white cheek, and the sexes look alike. In eastern Asia it is the common sparrow of towns and cities, while in Europe it keeps to lightly wooded open country. It feeds mainly on seeds but takes insects and other invertebrates, especially in the breeding season. IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. The Zhangye National Wetland Park was established in 2009 on the edge of the city and covers about 4,600 hectares.
I used a Pentax K-1 and the HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW for this one, at 1/800 sec, f/8, ISO 200. Wetlands like this one are a stopover for migrating birds in the dry Hexi Corridor, and their protection depends on keeping water in the Heihe.
©2018 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) belongs to the family Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2025). Source: IUCN Red List
