House Sparrows at Bird Feeders: How to Manage Them
House sparrows are chunky little brown birds, and males have a gray cap, a black bib, and a chestnut nape. They aren't native. They were released in Brooklyn in the 1850s and are now one of the most common feeder birds in North America, often arriving in noisy flocks.
Foods they love, and foods they skip
House sparrows go for millet, cracked corn, bread, and cheap seed mixes. They mostly leave safflower and Nyjer alone.
Switching to safflower in a tube or hopper feeder is often enough to send flocks elsewhere while cardinals, chickadees, and titmice keep coming.
Cardinals love safflower. Squirrels, grackles, and starlings usually don't, which makes it a smart seed for feeders that get raided.
Check price on Amazon for Wagner's Safflower Seed (opens Amazon)Feeders that favor other birds
Skip open platforms and ground feeding while sparrows are a problem. A weight-activated feeder set to close under heavier birds and a finch feeder with Nyjer both work well.
The squirrel-proof feeder most experienced backyard birders end up buying. When a squirrel climbs on, its weight pulls a shroud down over the seed ports. Small birds keep eating.
Check price on Amazon for Brome Squirrel Buster Plus (opens Amazon)Built for tiny Nyjer seed and the goldfinches that love it, with the same squirrel-stopping shroud as the rest of the line.
Check price on Amazon for Brome Squirrel Buster Nyjer Feeder (opens Amazon)Protect bluebird boxes
House sparrows take over nest boxes and can harm bluebirds and swallows. Monitor boxes weekly, and place bluebird boxes in open areas away from buildings, where sparrows are less common.
Frequently asked questions
Are house sparrows protected?
No. They're an introduced species and aren't covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but check local rules before removing nests.
How is a house sparrow different from native sparrows?
Male house sparrows have a black bib and gray cap. Native sparrows, like song and chipping sparrows, are streakier or have rusty caps.
Do house sparrows eat safflower?
Rarely. Safflower is one of the best foods to offer if they're crowding your feeders.
Not sure which feeder fits your yard?
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