Bird Table News

SONG

A variety of ‘cheep’ and chirp’.
One of the reasons they sing is to keep in contact within the flock they are in.

FEEDING House Sparrows are seed eaters. This means they have beaks that let them crack open the husk and get the seed from inside. Many birds can’t do this.

House sparrows eat a variety of bird food and scraps.

Some bird seed they enjoy -

nyjer seed - photo and information about nyjer seed and sunflower seed

peanut granules - photo and information about peanut granules

black sunflower seeds - photo and information about black sunflower seeds. They also eat sunflower hearts.

millet - has a really good energy ratio

Also a variety of garden scraps.

House Sparrows pick insects from spiders webs. They feed their nestlings on insects

House sparrows steal food from the beaks of other birds.

Sparrows use bird tables, ground feeders and hanging feeders

DESCRIPTION

The male house sparrow has

• brown upperparts that are streaked with black.
• Grey cheeks, rump and crown
• Black bib

Female and juvenile birds are

• more softly patterned.
• do not have the grey on the rump and crown,
• do not have the black on the head on throat.
• They are plainer than the male.

HABITAT House sparrows

House sparrows spend a lot of time in gardens and near buildings. They feed communally.

After the young have fledged the parents use the nest as a warm roost during the winter months.

(NOTE - I have only just found out about sparrows using their nests in winter. It explains what the sparrows were doing in November last year when I saw a sparrow carrying nesting material in it’s beak )

Their young born that summer use ever greens to roost in during the cold winter nights. They roost together for warmth and to survive.

(Note We have a lovely evergreen hedge that is full of birdsong in winter. The ivy is also used by birds. We can hear them rustling in the ivy. The area is alive with birdsong in winter)

SIZE OF BIRD
Length 14 cn (5 1/2 inches)
Wingspan: 20-22cm (8-9 inches)

EGGS

• 2-3 clutches of 3-5 eggs.
• The eggs are brown-blotched white eggs.
• The eggs are laid any time from April to August.

INCUBATION

• Eggs are incubated for 11-14 days
• Both parents incubate the eggs

FLEDGLING

• Fledging is 11-19 days after hatching.

NEST

• Lined with feathers and bits of plants.
• The nest is built by both parents
• House sparrows usually nest near buildings
• House sparrows sometimes make a nest which is domed. They make this nest of different grasses in a tree of a hedge.
• House sparrows have been known to chase house martins and swallows out of their nests. The house sparrow then uses the ready build nest to raise their young.

NEST BOXES
If you particulary want to attract a house sparrow use a nest box with a 29 x 55 mm oval hole

OTHER HOUSE SPARROW NOTES

• You rarely see a lone sparrow
• The house sparrow rarely lives away from humans
• House sparrows can survive in areas as diverse as the subartic towns of Sweden to the tropical cities of Brazil

Photo of sparrows in my garden - Are they tree or house sparrows?!

A reason why you should join me in feeding birds

A little bird told me - enjoy the day

Tags: fact-sheet, house-sparrow, sparrow