The Story
I photographed this Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) at the Zhangye National Wetland Park in Zhangye, Gansu, China on March 28, 2018. It feeds mainly on seeds but takes insects and other invertebrates, especially in the breeding season. It nests in a natural cavity, a hole in a building or an old nest of a larger bird. It has a rich chestnut crown and a black, kidney-shaped patch on each white cheek, and the sexes look alike. 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 took this with a Pentax K-1 and the HD PENTAX-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6ED DC AW, 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