The people regard the sparrow as one of the greatest pests, for he eats up the seeds and the crops. The people believe that the sparrows reach an age of over nine hundred years, and they tell the following tale about it. In a clearing of a huge oak forest, there grew up a tiny […]
Category: Passeridae
The Story of the Sparrow and the Crucifixion
Another legend brings us again to the same events. This time it is in connection with the sparrow. It is said that the sparrows were originally much bigger birds than they are now, but at the time of the crucifixion they flew round the cross and cried half mockingly, “Jiviu Jiviu,†which means “Live, live.†[…]
The Tree Sparrow and the selffish old woman, a tale of revenge
In a little house in a little old village in Japan lived a little old man and his little old wife. One morning when the old woman slid open the screens which form the sides of the Japanese houses, she saw on the doorstep a poor little sparrow. She took him up gently and fed […]
The death of the young Sparrow bride
Once upon a time there lived a cock-sparrow and his wife, who were both growing old. But despite his years the cock-sparrow was a gay, festive old bird, who plumed himself upon his appearance, and was quite a ladies’ man. So he cast his eyes on a lively young hen, and determined to marry her, […]
Folklore Greece, the Sparrow who went walking and became too arrogant
There was or there was not a sparrow that went out for a walk. After he had gone up hill and down dale a thorn ran into his foot. Then he returned to town and went to the baker and begged him to take out the thorn. The baker graciously did so, and threw the […]
Folklore from Liberia, how the Sparrow fooled the King
The animals choose Eagle king, and feast him. Sparrow wishes to visit Eagle; but Eagle will pay him no attention unless he first drinks a pot full of palm-wine. If Sparrow succeeds in this. Eagle agrees to share with him his kingdom. Sparrow stipulates that after each drink of palm-wine he be allowed to fly […]
Spring temperatures and laying dates of first eggs of three passerines in Croatia
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Science Article 7 abstract This study is based on the spring temperaturesand laying dates of first eggs of threepasserines (sedentary: Great Tit, Parus majorand Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus; migratory:Starling, Sturnus vulgaris). Laying datesof first eggs were used as estimates of timingof breeding. The term ‘laying date’ is definedas the date of […]
Fitness consequences of hybridization between house sparrows( Passer domesticus) and tree sparrows ( P. montanus)
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Science Article 2 abstract Gene transfer may occur following hybridization between closely related species if hybrids are viable and able to breed with individuals of one or both of the parental species. House (Passer domesticus) and tree sparrows (P. montanus) occasionally hybridize and produce viable o.spring. Previously, we concluded that male […]
Reproductive effort of colonialand solitary breeding tree sparrows Passer montanus L.
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Science Article 1 abstract A total of 250 nestboxes were arranged in five plots in a suburban area of Budapest, Hungary (19 deg 04’E, 47 deg 41’N). In each plot, 25 were placed at 50 m intervals to simulate solitary breeding and 25 3-5 m apart to simulate colonial breeding. Length […]
Population increase and aspects of colonization of the Tree Sparrow Passer montanus in the agricultural landscapes of southern Finland
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Science Article 5 abstract While many farmland bird species are declining in Western Europe, the Finnish Tree Sparrow Passer montanus population has increased significantly during recent decades. During 1984-2002, we studied the population changes, colonization characteristics and nest sites of theTree Sparrowin a large area of agricultural landscapewithin southern Finland. The […]