tree sparrow

noun

Definition of tree sparrow

1 : a Eurasian sparrow (Passer montanus) that has a black spot on the ear coverts

2 : a North American sparrow (Spizella arborea) that has a single dark spot on the breast and breeds in Alaska and northern Canada and winters in the U.S.

Recent Examples of tree sparrow from the Web

And bees aren’t the only ones—bird species like tree sparrows, which nest on the ground and breed during the summer, are also at risk.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "The Early Birds Might Be Crowding Out the Bees," 15 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tree sparrow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.