Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 54

*EURASIAN TREE SPARROW Passer montanus

Range Biak, Yapen.

Status Resident, introduced. 27 May 1989: 5‒6 visiting the eaves of office buildings in Biak town ( Holmes 1989). 12 July 1989: record confirmed (S. Nash in Holmes 1989). At the time, the nearest known established population was on Ambon, however by 1990 the species was well established on the Sangihe and Talaud Islands, by 1992 Ternate (North Maluku) and 1994 on Halmahera (Coates & Bishop 1997). During the 1990s small numbers continued to be seen in and around the airport, Biak township and some villages. Subsequently, following the establishment of roads and villages, and small towns such as Kota Supiori in the north, this species became widespread.

Breeding 17 July 2015: one carrying nesting material (location unknown) (C. Pasterczyk, eBird checklist S24640303).