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Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus)

Eurasian tree sparrows are introduced in Australia and can establish populations, including in south-eastern Australia and on Christmas Island. They are considered potential agricultural pests and are a biosecurity concern because of the risk of avian influenza.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, bird.

Native to: Europe and Asia, including south-eastern Asia and Indonesia.

Established in: QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, NT.

Other names: Tree sparrow.

Best time to act: Check sites throughout the year, with particular attention to birds feeding or gathering around buildings, grass and water sources.

Identification

  • A small, compact sparrow with a short, conical bill and brown, black and white plumage.
  • The crown and nape are rich chestnut-brown, and the back is boldly streaked with black.
  • Look for a black bib and a distinctive black spot on each white cheek.
  • Males and females are difficult to distinguish by appearance; young birds may resemble adults.
  • Look-alike: House sparrows are a likely lookalike. Adult male house sparrows have a grey crown, while female house sparrows are generally duller and lack the tree sparrow’s clear black cheek spot.

Where it lives

In Australia it occurs around towns, ports, buildings and other developed sites, and may feed in grass or vegetation near buildings and airstrips.

Why it matters

  • The species is considered a potential agricultural pest in Western Australia.
  • Established populations can persist and spread, including on islands and in towns.
  • Biosecurity control is also intended to address avian influenza, which can be lethal to poultry and potentially fatal to people.

How it spreads

  • Australian records have often been associated with major shipping ports, and ship-assisted arrivals have contributed to its spread.
  • Natural dispersal may also occur; a storm was considered a plausible explanation for the arrival of sparrows on Troughton Island.

Control methods

  • Report sightings promptly to the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency, particularly outside known established areas.
  • Where control is authorised, have trained personnel use approved, humane capture or removal methods; do not relocate birds or use unapproved methods.
  • Reduce food and water available around facilities, and secure waste, feed and accessible water sources.
  • Follow up with repeat checks for remaining birds or renewed activity, and maintain records of sightings and actions.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Inspect vessels, freight spaces, sheds and other facilities for stowaway birds before they are moved or opened at a new site.
  • Keep waste and stored feed secure, and clean up food spills that could attract sparrows.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Not a declared pest. Not on an NT declared or prohibited list. Check with the NT Government before keeping, moving or releasing it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Northern Territory: Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (NT), administered by NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

Sources