Species · GBIF taxon 5231190
Passer domesticus
passer domesticusAlso known as English Sparrow, Domestic Sparrow
House sparrows are highly social, boisterous songbirds that thrive in close association with human settlements, nesting in building crevices and nest boxes. They form noisy flocks year-round, dust-bathing in dry dirt patches and aggressively defending their nesting sites. Their diet consists primarily of seeds, grains, and discarded human food, which they forage on the ground with a hopping motion.
UrbanSocialAdaptable
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- diet
- Seeds, grains, insects, and human food scraps
- family
- Passeridae
- threats
- Predation by domestic cats, habitat changes, and insect decline
- life Span
- 3 to 5 years in the wild
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Feeder placement: Use tube feeders with small perches to deter them if favoring native species.
- Nest box exclusion: Install 1.125-inch entry holes to prevent them from entering chickadee boxes.
- Observation: Watch for their communal dust-bathing behavior in dry, dusty garden patches.