Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus was seen on many occasions on this tour and was photographed at close range at the temple site. In Asia, my observations would suggest that it is more common in towns than House Sparrow Passer domesticus. In the UK, both species have undergone a significant decline, Eurasian Tree Sparrow even more so with an estimated 98% decline in its population over the past twenty to thirty years largely as a result of changes in farming practices.

It is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape, and a black patch on each pure white cheek. The sexes are similarly plumaged, and young birds are a duller version of the adult. This sparrow breeds over most of temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, where it is known as the Tree Sparrow, and it has been introduced elsewhere including the United States, where it is known as the Eurasian Tree Sparrow or German Sparrow to differentiate it from the native unrelated American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea. Although several subspecies are recognised, the appearance of this bird varies little across its extensive range.

Reference: Wikipedia