What they like

Quiet, good visibility and a bit of scruffiness. A tall tree or thick hedge to nest in, plus an open spot to land. In the garden or park: let ivy climb a fence or wall. Plant hawthorn, privet, field maple. On the homestead: keep a corner with shrubs and a few tall trees. In farmland: wide hedgerows and scrub margins are gold.

Ecological importance

A seed-eater with taste: grains, seeds, buds, berries. He also likes to pick over mown areas. He’s instant lunch for the goshawk and peregrine, and so keeps the raptor machine running. His foraging spreads seeds; they moves food and life.

When in the Netherlands

All year round. Breeds for a long season, often from early spring and sometimes well into late summer.

Status

Common. Does well in city, village and countryside, as long as there’s green to hide in and places to forage.