The House Sparrow

The House Sparrow is a small bird measuring 6 to 6 ½ inches in length. Its plumage is predominately brown, gray, black, and white. Its cheeks are white but its chest and throat are black. The back of its head is a chestnut brown and extends all the way to its eyes. It has a gray cap and broad white bars on its upper wings. Its chest and belly are grayish-white. In winter the black bib around its throat is hidden under the pale breast feathers.

The female's plumage is light in color and streaked with brown. The black bib is nonexistent and the grey crown is missing. The juveniles are a deeper brown and the white is replaced by a buff color. The female and juvenile's beaks are yellow while the male's is black in the summer and yellow in the winter.

The House Sparrow is native to Europe. It was introduced in the United States as a means of pest control in the 1800's. They adapted and multiplied and are now found throughout the continent. Instead of providing pest control, they have become the pests. House Sparrows kill adult bluebirds and other cavity nesters, smash their eggs, and take over the nesting sites. They are a major factor in the decline of bluebirds in North America.

The House Sparrow is an adaptive bird making use of whatever is available. It will build a nest under eaves, on sea-cliffs, and in bushes. If a nesting site is not readily available, it will move in and take over another bird's nest.

The House Sparrow's nest is an untidy mess. It is a well constructed dome, but it is filled with straw, trash and dropped feathers. The loose fill falls to the ground littering the area beneath it.

The female lays 5 to 6 brown speckled eggs. The eggs are incubated by the female for 10 to 12 days before hatching. One female can lay as many as 25 eggs in one season. House Sparrows nest and roost in communal colonies.

The House Sparrow is an omnivore feeding on insects, seeds, fruits, and nuts. They are a destructive forager destroying crops and gardens as they feed.

The House Sparrow has a short, incessant chirp. When nesting a long "churr" and sometimes a "phillip" are also in its repertoire.

Listen to the House Sparrow's call: Sound Byte: House Sparrow, National Park Service

Common Birds and Their Songs (Book and Audio CD)

This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.