House sparrows are one of the most common backyard birds found throughout North America. While some people view them as pests, attracting house sparrows to your yard can be easy and enjoyable. Here are some tips on how to attract house sparrows to your backyard.
Provide Food and Water
Offering food and water is key to attracting house sparrows. Here are some of the best food sources to put out:
- Bird seed – A mix of millet, milo, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and nyjer thistle will attract house sparrows.
- Suet – House sparrows relish high-fat suet, especially in winter.
- Fruit – Chopped fruit like apples and grapes will draw in house sparrows.
- Bread – Sparrows will readily eat bread crumbs and pieces.
- Mealworms – Live or dried mealworms are a favorite snack.
- Water – Provide a birdbath, fountain, or other water source.
Make sure to keep feeders and water sources clean and well-stocked. Place them in open areas near trees or shrubs, which offer cover.
Tips for Feeders and Water
- Use tube feeders, hopper feeders, or platform feeders.
- Include a range of feeder styles to accommodate flocking behavior.
- Add a suet feeder or cake for high-energy food.
- Provide a shallow birdbath, fountain, or drippers.
- Change water daily to prevent disease.
Offer Nesting Sites
House sparrows are cavity nesters and will take advantage of bird houses, nest boxes, and other artificial nest sites. Here are some tips for nest boxes to attract them:
- Use a box sized 4-6 inches wide x 6-8 inches tall.
- Include a 1-1 1/2 inch diameter entrance hole placed 5-6 inches above the floor.
- Face the entrance away from prevailing winds and intense sunlight.
- Mount boxes 8-12 feet off the ground on buildings, poles, or trees.
- Clean out old nesting material after young have fledged.
You can also encourage nesting by allowing vines, creepers, and dense shrubs around your home. Sparrows will tuck their nests into protected spots under eaves and awnings as well.
Nest Box Tips
- Install 2-3 boxes within a territory for best results.
- Place boxes near feeding stations for convenience.
- Use weather-resistant materials like cedar, redwood, or plastic.
- Add drainage holes in the bottom to keep boxes dry.
- Monitor boxes to evict aggressive non-native species.
Provide Shelter
House sparrows prefer habitats with a mix of cover and open space. Here are some ways to provide good shelter in your yard:
- Plant native shrubs and small trees to create protected, dense cover.
- Allow ivy, vines, and creepers to grow on fences and walls.
- Leave brush piles and patches of leaf litter for foraging spots.
- Retain some dead trees or install snags for perching.
- Add roost boxes for winter shelter and protection.
Focus on planting native species whenever possible. Good options include elderberry, serviceberry, dogwood, sumac, buttonbush, and wild rose. Group plantings together to form attractive habitat areas.
Shelter Tips
- Avoid removing all dead trees and fallen branches.
- Allow leaf litter to accumulate in parts of your yard.
- Preserve more overgrown, unmowed sections.
- Leave raised garden beds and compost piles for foraging.
- Tolerate vines, creepers, and dense shrubs.
Limit Pesticide Use
A key step in attracting house sparrows is reducing or eliminating pesticide use whenever possible. Pesticides remove the insect food sources that birds rely on and may also poison the birds directly.
Here are some tips for minimizing pesticides:
- Remove pesticide treated plants from your landscaping.
- Avoid spraying insecticides which kill butterfly and moth caterpillars.
- Use natural fertilizers like compost instead of synthetic.
- Accept some insect damage on plants instead of spraying.
- Introduce native plants which require less water and care.
- Pull weeds by hand rather than using weed killers.
Creating an overall healthy yard habitat will naturally reduce the need for pest control. Birds will then have access to more plentiful native food sources.
Organic Pest Control
- Use insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, or Neem oil instead of pesticides.
- Release ladybugs and other beneficial insects to control pests.
- Install bird or bat boxes to allow natural insect control.
- Use traps, barriers, or repellents to exclude pests when needed.
- Tolerate some plant damage instead of always spraying.
Provide Open Access
Unlike skittish forest birds, house sparrows will readily come to backyards and urban spaces. Still, they prefer open access without too many obstructions between feeders and other habitat features. Here are some tips:
- Prune lower branches on small trees and shrubs to create open space.
- Clear dense ground cover around feeders and baths.
- Select transparent fencing and gates whenever possible.
- Use thorny or prickly plants along fences to deter climbing.
- Keep pathways and trails open without low cover.
Striking a balance between open access and protected shelter is ideal. Allow birds a clear flight path between feeders, baths, nest sites, and cover across your yard.
Access Tips
- Avoid large expanses of solid fencing or walls.
- Prune back encroaching tree branches and vines.
- Select decorative fences, arbors, or short walls.
- Keep some visibility under porches, decks, and elevated structures.
- Remove house clutter, yard debris, and storage items.
Manage Cats and Predators
House sparrows face predation from domestic cats as well as native predators like hawks, owls, and snakes. Here are some ways to help protect sparrows visiting your yard:
- Keep pet cats indoors or supervise time outside.
- Install cat deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers.
- Place feeders and baths at least 15 feet from dense cover where cats hide.
- Incorporate thorny or prickly plants as barriers around feeding areas.
- Set rodent traps away from primary bird zones.
Providing escape cover and placing feeders in more open areas allows birds to better elude predators. Avoid using pesticides so natural predator-prey balances remain intact.
Predator Control
- Install nest boxes with predator guards or baffles.
- Use squirrel-resistant feeders to limit competition for food.
- Provide roost boxes as protected nighttime shelter.
- Accept some predation as part of a healthy backyard ecosystem.
- Plant dense, thorny shrubs and vines to deter larger animals.
Conclusion
Attracting lively house sparrows to your yard is simple with a focus on food, water, shelter, and nesting space. By following these tips, you can design a perfect habitat oasis tailored to sparrows. Observe their interesting behaviors and enjoy their company as you connect with nature right outside your door.
Habitat Feature | Specific Tips |
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Food and Water |
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Shelter |
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Nesting Sites |
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Pesticide Avoidance |
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By incorporating these habitat features into your backyard, you can successfully attract house sparrows. Observe their interesting behaviors and enjoy their lively activity outside your windows.