How to Attract Song Sparrows to Your Yard
Song sparrows are streaky brown sparrows with a dark spot in the middle of the chest and a cheerful, tumbling song. They're found across most of North America and are easy to attract once you know they like to feed low.
What song sparrows eat
Song sparrows eat insects in summer and small seeds the rest of the year. White millet and sunflower hearts are their favorite feeder foods.
Sunflower seeds with the shells already removed. No mess on your patio or deck, and no waste, because birds eat every piece.
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Like most sparrows, song sparrows feed on the ground. Scatter seed under shrubs or use a low platform feeder rather than a hanging tube.
An open tray feeder that welcomes the widest range of birds, including cardinals, doves, jays, and juncos that prefer to feed in the open.
Check price on Amazon for Woodlink 3-in-1 Platform Feeder (opens Amazon)Keep some cover
Dense shrubs, tall grasses, and brush piles give song sparrows places to hide and nest. A slightly untidy corner of the yard is perfect for them.
Add water
Song sparrows bathe often. A shallow bird bath near cover, ideally with moving water, brings them out into view.
Birds notice moving water from far away. This floating solar pump turns any bird bath into a small fountain in spring and summer, with no wiring.
Check price on Amazon for AISITIN 2.5W Solar Bird Bath Fountain Pump (opens Amazon)Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a song sparrow from other sparrows?
Look for heavy brown streaks on a white chest that meet in a dark central spot, and listen for its long, jumbled song.
Do song sparrows migrate?
Many stay all year. Birds in the far North and the northern Plains move south for winter.
Will song sparrows use a hanging feeder?
Sometimes, but they're much more comfortable on the ground or a low platform.
Not sure which feeder fits your yard?
Answer three quick questions and we'll match you with the right setup.