MUTTONCHOPS!

TREE SPARROW IN GREATER MANCHESTER

by Ian McKerchar

Tree Sparrows waiting to drop onto a feeding station, that often essential grain scattered onto a track by some generous birder! (Photo by Pauline Greenhalgh)

 

I remember hearing Tree Sparrow called 'muttonchops' many, many years ago in my youth, by whom I can't recall but the term always stayed with me. What are muttonchops then? Well, basically they're big sideburns extending onto the cheeks of (generally speaking!) men, vaguely taking the shape of a pork chop. Compare the two images below and you'll see where I'm coming from, or perhaps not...

...try looking through squinting eyes instead and that might help...

 

The typically noisy hustle and bustle of a Tree Sparrow flock in a winter gathering. The largest flock ever recorded in the county was of 150 at Chorlton in March 1977, a location where the species would now be a immense rarity! Good sized flocks can still be encountered within the county during the post-breeding or winter periods, with the former still attaining impressive numbers in recent years of up to 70-80 at favoured county locations such as Woodford and Astley Moss East. The general decline in the species throughout the UK as a whole though has meant a reduction in their numbers and distribution around the county. (Photo by Pauline Greenhalgh)

 

Much of the decline in the species can be attributed to a number of factors such as intensive agriculture, hedgerow clearance, loss of old trees, conversion of farm buildings to residences and more efficient farming techniques. Their future looks conceivably brighter though as nationally atleast the latest BTO Breeding Birds Survey reports a significant 39% increase in England during the period 2007-08 and a 50% increase the whole of the UK. Hopefully, a concerted effort by us all during Greater Manchester's current atlas work will establish a new and more thorough appreciation and understanding of the species' distribution in the county. Colour ringed birds can add a dash of interest and may be encountered in the county as a ringing scheme is on operation. The scheme uses a combination of a metal ring and 3 colour rings, the colours in use being white, black, red, yellow, light-green and dark-blue. Sightings of such colour ringed birds should be sent to Steve Christmas at se.christmas@ntlworld.com. (Photo by Pauline Greenhalgh)

 

The above map portrays Tree Sparrow distribution in Greater Manchester, in all seasons in the period mid to late 2000's. Localised at best in their distribution, they can still occasionally be found outside these areas, usually in the post-breeding or winter periods. The lowland mosses of Astley, Chat and Irlam remain the county stronghold of the species and the optimum area to locate them year-round, with the Leigh Ornithological feeding station along the track at Rindle Road (see here) typically the most productive location of them all outside the breeding season.

Compare below the map below for Tree Sparrow from Breeding Birds in Greater Manchester (Holland, Spence and Sutton, 1984) for the period 1979-1983. The stark contrast between the distribution in the two maps (above and below) and the patent decline in the species is all to easy to see. In the very early 1980's exceptional autumn counts of 100 were encountered at Pennington Flash were nowadays the species is a rarity!

 

Their choice of habitat in the county is unsurprising and follows that which we are familiar with but in winter they will happily visit garden feeders and one lucky household in Astley Village (only a few hundred yards from the A580 East Lancs Road!) regularly attracts over twenty to feed on seed and fat balls. Travel to eastern Asia though and things take a dramatic twist where in cities such as Hong Kong, Tree Sparrows are in every city centre park, on every building and pavement down every main street or feeding at your feet down tiny back-street alleys! (Photo by Pauline Greenhalgh)

 

 County Tree Sparrows typically build their nests in a cavity in an old tree or building but willingly utilise nest boxes where and when provided and will breed in isolation or in loose colonies. The nest is an untidy affair, usually of grass, hay, wool (where available) and other materials, lined with feathers and upto three broods can be produced each year. Male Tree Sparrows call loudly from the nest site in spring to proclaim their ownership and attract a mate, their 'song' (such as it is) is described below. This display and nest building is then repeated in autumn. (Photo by Rob Adderley) 

 

Tree Sparrow has no distinct song as such but a series of rather exited 'tschirp' calls is given, alternated between a higher and lower pitch. Their calls, including their 'giveaway' flight call are very distinctive once heard and learned though typically, trying to express their calls in words does little for the imagination or use in the field so try using this link as a much better option. (Photo by John Tymon)

 

A handsome bird, their solid reddish-brown crown, white collar, black cheek patch and double white wing bar render them unmistakeable. Juveniles have the chin and upper throat dark grey, the crown is greyish-brown tinged rufous on the sides, the greater and median covert wings bars are more buffish and the mutton-chop (the black ear covert 'patch') is less well defined. They quickly begin to look like adults though and from that point on both young and old, male and female, look alike. (Photo by John Tymon)  

 

Muttonchops! Endearing and entertaining. (Photo by John Tymon)

 

References

Holland, Spence and Sutton 1984, Breeding Birds in Greater Manchester

Wilson, J. D. 1985, Birds and Birdwatching at Pennington Flash

BTO Breeding Bird Survey Reports

Greater Manchester Annual County Bird Reports

 

Acknowledgements

Thanks to John Tymon, Pauline Greenhalgh, Rob Adderley and Pete Berry for supplying me with their outstanding images for use in this article.

 

Ian McKerchar, February 2010

 

Some folk have all the luck. Garden visiting Tree Sparrows for some as below but alas in twelve years at my current home address not for me, despite them having fairly regularly encroached within 500 yards! They remain a deeply sought after omission on my garden list. (Photo Pete Berry)

 

 

 

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