Sparrows are a common sight around many homes, but not everyone views them as welcome guests. While they can be messy and noisy at times, sparrows offer some benefits that may make putting up with them worthwhile. This article explores the pros and cons of having sparrows around your house.
Introduction to sparrows
There are two main species of sparrows commonly found around homes in the United States: the house sparrow and the Eurasian tree sparrow. Both species were introduced to North America by humans and have adapted well to living alongside us.
House sparrows are about 6 inches long and have chunky bodies with full chests. Males have gray crowns, black bibs, reddish-brown backs, and whitish cheeks. Females are dull tan-brown overall. House sparrows live in close association with humans and nest in or on buildings. They form large, noisy flocks that squabble over food.
Eurasian tree sparrows look very similar to house sparrows but have a black spot on each cheek. They also form noisy flocks but prefer nesting in trees and shrubs more than houses. Both house and Eurasian tree sparrows are active, social, and prolific breeders. A single pair can raise up to 4 broods per year with 4-6 chicks per brood.
Benefits of having sparrows around
Despite their somewhat messy habits, sparrows do provide some benefits when they live around your home:
Pest control
Sparrows eat a wide variety of insects and can help control pest populations around your yard and garden. Caterpillars, aphids, beetles, grasshoppers, and flies are among their favorite foods. Sparrows destroy thousands of weed seeds each year and feast on troublesome pests like termites and ticks.
Composting
The large volume of droppings produced by a flock of sparrows has high levels of nitrogen and makes an excellent addition to compost piles and bin systems. Their droppings speed up the composting process.
Amusement
Many people enjoy watching the antics of sparrows at their bird feeders. Sparrows provide year-round entertainment with their social squabbling and activity. Watching them raise multiple broods each season can also be fascinating for some.
Prey base
Providing a prey base for other birds can be considered a benefit of tolerating sparrows. Birds of prey like Cooper’s hawks and falcons will hunt sparrows, keeping their populations in check while also feeding themselves.
Disadvantages of having sparrows around
On the other hand, there are some definite downsides to having a lot of sparrows in your yard:
Messiness
Sparrows leave behind a lot of droppings and debris wherever they hang out. They often roost on or in buildings, dirtying walls with their feces. Bird feeders placed for other species will quickly become covered in piles of sparrow droppings.
Damage
The pecking of sparrows can damage wood, metal, and other materials. They will peck at the mortar between bricks or shingles and can ruin outdoor furniture, vehicles, and buildings. Sparrows often nest in eaves or vents, potentially causing clogs or water damage.
Disease
Sparrow droppings and nests can harbor a variety of diseases. Cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, salmonella, and over 60 other pathogens have been detected in sparrow feces and nests. Inhaling dust from dried droppings is a potential health hazard.
Territoriality
Sparrows are very territorial and will chase away other birds from feeders and nest sites, reducing bird diversity. Species like chickadees, titmice, and native sparrows may abandon backyard habitats overrun by house sparrows.
Crop damage
While sparrows eat some weed seeds, they also consume valuable grains and fruits. Sparrows often descend on crops like newly planted corn, wheat, rice, and sorghum, damaging yields. They also peck fruits like grapes, berries, and melons.
Displacement of native birds
Since house sparrows and Eurasian tree sparrows are not native to North America, some argue they should not be encouraged. Providing food, water, and nest sites may give these non-native species an advantage over similar native birds like chickadees, nuthatches, and bluebirds.
Noise
The nearly constant loud chirping of sparrows annoys some people. Sparrows begin calling early in the morning and form noisy flocks. Their sounds can make it hard to enjoy sitting outside.
Table comparing benefits and disadvantages
Here is a table summarizing the key pros and cons of having house sparrows around your property:
Benefits | Disadvantages |
---|---|
Pest control | Messiness |
Composting | Damage |
Amusement | Disease |
Prey base | Territoriality | Crop damage |
Displacement of native birds | |
Noise |
Should you discourage sparrows or welcome them?
Whether to discourage sparrows or tolerate them around your home is a personal choice based on your priorities. Here are some things to consider when deciding your approach:
How messy are they?
Monitor how much of a mess the sparrows make and where their droppings accumulate. Mess can be minimized by discouraging sparrows from roosting on the house and cleaning feeders often.
How much damage do they cause?
Inspect your property for any damage from pecking or nesting activities. Damage may be avoided by blocking access to eaves and vents, covering vulnerable surfaces, and using deterrents.
Do you value their pest control?
Consider how much of a pest problem you have in your yard. Sparrows provide great natural insect and weed control but may not be needed if pests are already under control.
Do native birds need help?
Determine if house sparrows are displacing native species from feeders and nest sites. Providing separate feeders and nest boxes for native birds may allow coexistence.
How much do you enjoy them?
Sparrows provide year-round entertainment for some people who enjoy watching backyard birds. Their social activity and constant presence bring joy to some.
Do you need their compost?
Those using compost bins can put sparrow droppings to good use. Compost piles low in nitrogen especially benefit from the nitrogen boost of their manure.
How annoying is the noise?
For those bothered by the nearly constant noisy chattering, eliminating sparrows may significantly increase enjoyment of yard spaces and reduce stress.
Are health risks a concern?
Consider your family’s health vulnerabilities. Sparrows are unlikely to cause illness in most healthy people, but risks may need to be reduced for those with weakened immune systems.
Tips for discouraging house sparrows
If you decide reducing the number of sparrows is preferable, here are some tips that can help:
Remove food and water sources
Eliminating bird feeders is one of the most effective ways to discourage sparrows from settling in your yard. Sparrows rely heavily on feeders for survival in urban and suburban environments. Removing water sources like bird baths also helps discourage sparrows.
Clean up debris and cover surfaces
Keep the yard free from debris like trash and piles of leaves or pine needles. Sparrows use such materials to build nests. Covering surfaces susceptible to damage by pecking also denies them nest sites.
Use deterrents
Scare tape, predator decoys (like hawks and owls), and noise makers can be used to frighten sparrows away from your house. Make sure deterrents are moved around frequently so sparrows do not become accustomed to them.
Block access
Plug holes, cover vents, and use hardware cloth or netting to prevent access to potential nesting spots inside and on buildings. Hang loosely so birds cannot injure themselves on it.
Modify landscaping
Removing dense hedges and thick shrubs eliminates protective cover desired by sparrows. Incorporate more open landscape designs with turf, sparse ground cover, and widely spaced plants.
Use pesticides carefully
As a last resort, very targeted use of approved bird poisoning agents (like Avitrol) may be warranted in extreme infestations. However, great care is needed to prevent harming other wildlife or pets. Most experts recommend against poisoning.
Providing for native birds instead of sparrows
Rather than completely removing food and nest sites, another option is adapting resources to favor native birds over house sparrows. Here are some tips:
Choose native plants
Landscape with plants that provide seeds, berries, and insects preferred by local native birds. For example, in eastern North America, serviceberry, dogwood, blueberry, and grape offer good sources of food.
Use native-friendly feeders
Tube feeders, suet feeders, and hopper feeders with weight-activated perches allow small native birds like chickadees and titmice to feed while excluding larger house sparrows.
Offer natural food sources
Provide native berry bushes, a brush pile of cut branches, a small pond, and other habitat features that give native birds food while discouraging sparrows.
Put up nest boxes
Sparrows prefer more enclosed nest spots like old vents or cavities inside barns and sheds. Putting up nest boxes designed for native cavity nesters like bluebirds and titmice can help provide alternative nest sites.
Use deterrents selectively
Place deterrents only in areas frequented by sparrows, allowing native birds continued access to feeders and other habitat features elsewhere on your property.
In conclusion
House sparrows and Eurasian tree sparrows offer some benefits like insect control but also bring disadvantages such as mess, damage, competition with native birds, and noise. Whether to discourage them or tolerate them is an individual choice based on your preferences, health vulnerabilities, enjoyment of nature, and specific situation.
If you do wish to reduce sparrows, the most effective strategies are removing their food, water, and nesting sites and making your property less attractive overall. However, with some planning, you can usually find a middle ground that still provides habitat for native birds while limiting, but not completely excluding, non-native sparrows.