What is your favourite bird? Tree sparrows, commonly seen and abundant in the city, have earned the highest number of votes in a poll of Hong Kong's favourite bird.

Tree sparrows are small birds - just 15cm in length - or as long as your mum's palm. They have dark brown feathers on their head, a brown back with black streaks.

It is not difficult to identify sparrows, as they have black spots on their throat and cheeks, and thick cone-shaped bills to crush seeds. Sometimes they also help spread seeds.

You can find tree sparrows everywhere all year round, in buildings, urban parks, streams, fishponds and the countryside. They like living and feeding in groups, and enjoy eating insects, seeds and berries.

As they have adapted to living with people, they also eat food people leave for them.

The bird was named Hong Kong's favourite bird last year, with 4,019 votes earned in the election. Voters said tree sparrows are lovely, energetic and can survive in any environment - just like Hong Kong people.