A Familiar Introduced Bird
The House Sparrow is an Old World sparrow commonly associated with towns, farms, and other places where people live. It belongs to a different family from the native New World sparrows of North America.
History in North America
House Sparrows were introduced to Brooklyn, New York, in 1851. Additional introductions and their ability to thrive near people helped them spread widely across the continent.
Their introduction was encouraged in part by the belief that they would help control insect pests. Their expansion also brought competition with native birds for nesting sites.
Nesting and Breeding
House Sparrows commonly nest in openings in buildings, beneath eaves, and in other sheltered spaces. They also use nest boxes and sometimes tree cavities.
Their nests contain coarse dried vegetation lined with finer materials, such as feathers. They often reuse nest sites and may raise one to four broods in a breeding season.
Competition with Native Birds
House Sparrows aggressively defend nesting sites. They can displace native cavity-nesting birds, including bluebirds and Tree Swallows, from nest boxes.
Listen to the House Sparrow
Select Play to hear the sparrow recording.