70birds
That Nest in Birdhouses70birds
That Nest in BirdhousesEnglish Sparrow
(House Sparrow)
Passer domesticus
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species: domesticus
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. idae appearance, resemblance
La. domus house
La. icus characteristic of, like, belonging to
Gr. ikos typical, pertaining to, derived from
About six inches long. Grayish brown, the back streaked with black. Brown wings with white bars. Buff white underside. Narrow white stripe over the eyes. White and chestnut cheek patches. White sides and neck. Black throat and breast.
The English House Sparrow was imported to North America to protect trees from a caterpillar which is the larva of the Geometrid Moth.
Many disagreed with the wisdom of this move and even predicted they would become pests as they fed on seeds and buds, not insects. Their words went unheeded.
Even after initial efforts failed, reintroduction was not only renewed, a seemingly concerted effort ensured its start.
Unlikely but it might as well have been. Sparrows now thrive throughout most of the continent.
Eight pair were brought to the U.S. in 1850 for the purpose of ridding the shade trees of inch worms.
In the spring of 1851 Nicholas Pike and other directors of the Brooklyn Institute released the imported English sparrows in Brooklyn, New York.
They did not survive. Nevertheless, destiny was on the side of the hoard and Pike arranged for the importation of one hundred more which were released in 1852 and 1853.
In 1854 Colonel Rhodes imported and released some of the birds in Portland Maine and some in Quebec. Over the next ten years, a few hundred more were imported and released in Quebec and the areas around Portland, Boston and New York.
Then in 1869, about one thousand were released in Philadelphia. They were released in San Francisco, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and several other cities in the interior. Between 1874 and 1876 a few were released in Jackson and Owosso, Michigan and in 1881 they were introduced in Iowa.
It wasn’t long before the destruction of crops, the spread of disease and parasites, competition with song birds, its filthy habits and a population explosion revealed its introduction was a huge mistake.
Control and extermination attempts with bounties and poison have proved useless against such a pervasive species. It does considerable damage to grain crops and storage. The sparrow’s movements between farms expedites the spread of chicken lice and mites and livestock diseases which can be spread by mere physical contact.
A few House Sparrows can multiply into thousands in a few years because they regularly raise three and sometimes as many as five broods per year, each brood averaging around five or six birds.
It builds nests in almost any nook or cranny in farms, towns and cities. The droppings from large flocks roosting on houses and other buildings despoil window trim, porches and ornamental work. It eats buds, young sprouts, flowers and seeds of almost anything, but no insect pests.
Since it is a year around resident it has a head start in the spring, invading the bird houses we place for migrating song birds. It dominates feeders intended for song birds leaving most of the seed on the ground uneaten.
The Side Mounted Birdhouse has an entrance hole of 1 3/8″ diameter, usually too small for sparrows, but not to small for chickadees, wrens, swallows, nuthatches, titmice and more.
Monitor birdhouses and other nooks and crannies for sparrows and starlings. They can be persistent but you will win.
Side Mounted Birdhouse
House finches are not typically intimidated by English sparrow bullies at either birdhouses or bird feeders. But the House Finch Birdhouse has a big 2″ entrance opening and needs to be monitored for the flying rats.
If you’re diligent, you might be able to populate your yard and feeder with the more preferable house finch competitors that will be more accommodating to additional song bird species.
House Finch Birdhouse
The Spruce website has a well written article on Discouraging House Sparrows.
English Sparrow
(House Sparrow)
Passer domesticus
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species: domesticus
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. idae appearance, resemblance
La. domus house
La. icus characteristic of, like, belonging to
Gr. ikos typical, pertaining to, derived from
About six inches long. Grayish brown, the back streaked with black. Brown wings with white bars. Buff white underside. Narrow white stripe over the eyes. White and chestnut cheek patches. White sides and neck. Black throat and breast.
An introduced species, it has prospered phenomenally, especially in conjunction with human habitation to the consternation people and other birds.
The winged rat is in complete possession of the continent. English sparrows densely populate nearly the entire US and Canada up to the northern tree line as well as most regions world wide especially so with human populations.
The English House Sparrow was imported to North America to protect trees from a caterpillar which is the larva of the Geometrid Moth.
Many disagreed with the wisdom of this move and even predicted they would become pests as they fed on seeds and buds, not insects. Their words went unheeded.
Even after initial efforts failed, reintroduction was not only renewed, a seemingly concerted effort ensured its start. Unlikely but it might as well have been. Sparrows now thrive throughout most of the continent.
Eight pair were brought to the U.S. in 1850 for the purpose of ridding the shade trees of inch worms.
In the spring of 1851 Nicholas Pike and other directors of the Brooklyn Institute released the imported English sparrows in Brooklyn, New York.
They did not survive. Nevertheless, destiny was on the side of the hoard and Pike arranged for the importation of one hundred more which were released in 1852 and 1853.
In 1854 Colonel Rhodes imported and released some of the birds in Portland Maine and some in Quebec. Over the next ten years, a few hundred more were imported and released in Quebec and the areas around Portland, Boston and New York.
Then in 1869, about one thousand were released in Philadelphia. They were released in San Francisco, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and several other cities in the interior. Between 1874 and 1876 a few were released in Jackson and Owosso, Michigan and in 1881 they were introduced in Iowa.
It wasn’t long before the destruction of crops, the spread of disease and parasites, competition with song birds, its filthy habits and a population explosion revealed its introduction was a huge mistake.
Control and extermination attempts with bounties and poison have proved useless against such a pervasive species. It does considerable damage to grain crops and storage. The sparrow’s movements between farms expedites the spread of chicken lice and mites and livestock diseases which can be spread by mere physical contact.
A few House Sparrows can multiply into thousands in a few years because they regularly raise three and sometimes as many as five broods per year, each brood averaging around five or six birds.
It builds nests in almost any nook or cranny in farms, towns and cities. The droppings from large flocks roosting on houses and other buildings despoil window trim, porches and ornamental work. It eats buds, young sprouts, flowers and seeds of almost anything, but no insect pests.
It is a persistent adversary of many useful birds, especially those that seek shelter in bird houses or nest near humans including bluebirds, wrens, phoebes, tree swallows, purple martins, song sparrows, chickadees, flycatchers, thrushes, tanagers, robins and more.
Since it is a year around resident it has a head start in the spring, invading the bird houses we place for migrating song birds. It dominates feeders intended for song birds leaving most of the seed on the ground uneaten.
The Side Mounted Birdhouse has an entrance hole of 1 3/8″ diameter, usually too small for sparrows, but not to small for chickadees, wrens, swallows, nuthatches, titmice and more.
Monitor birdhouses and other nooks and crannies for sparrows and starlings. They can be persistent but you will win.
House finches are not typically intimidated by English sparrow bullies at either birdhouses or bird feeders. But the House Finch Birdhouse has a big 2″ entrance opening and needs to be monitored for the flying rats.
If you’re diligent, you might be able to populate your yard and feeder with the more preferable house finch competitors that will be more accommodating to additional song bird species.
Side Mounted Birdhouse
House Finch Birdhouse
The Spruce website has a well written article on Discouraging House Sparrows.
English Sparrow
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
(House Sparrow)
Passer domesticus
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Species: domesticus
La. passer sparrow, small bird
La. forma form, kind, species
La. idae appearance, resemblance
La. domus house
La. icus characteristic of, like, belonging to
Gr. ikos typical, pertaining to, derived from
About six inches long. Grayish brown, the back streaked with black. Brown wings with white bars. Buff white underside. Narrow white stripe over the eyes. White and chestnut cheek patches. White sides and neck. Black throat and breast.
An introduced species, it has prospered phenomenally, especially in conjunction with human habitation to the consternation people and other birds.
The winged rat is in complete possession of the continent. English sparrows densely populate nearly the entire US and Canada up to the northern tree line as well as most regions world wide especially so with human populations.
The English House Sparrow was imported to North America to protect trees from a caterpillar which is the larva of the Geometrid Moth.
Many disagreed with the wisdom of this move and even predicted they would become pests as they fed on seeds and buds, not insects. Their words went unheeded.
Even after initial efforts failed, reintroduction was not only renewed, a seemingly concerted effort ensured its start. Unlikely but it might as well have been. Sparrows now thrive throughout most of the continent.
Eight pair were brought to the U.S. in 1850 for the purpose of ridding the shade trees of inch worms.
In the spring of 1851 Nicholas Pike and other directors of the Brooklyn Institute released the imported English sparrows in Brooklyn, New York.
They did not survive. Nevertheless, destiny was on the side of the hoard and Pike arranged for the importation of one hundred more which were released in 1852 and 1853.
In 1854 Colonel Rhodes imported and released some of the birds in Portland Maine and some in Quebec. Over the next ten years, a few hundred more were imported and released in Quebec and the areas around Portland, Boston and New York.
Then in 1869, about one thousand were released in Philadelphia. They were released in San Francisco, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and several other cities in the interior. Between 1874 and 1876 a few were released in Jackson and Owosso, Michigan and in 1881 they were introduced in Iowa.
It wasn’t long before the destruction of crops, the spread of disease and parasites, competition with song birds, its filthy habits and a population explosion revealed its introduction was a huge mistake.
Control and extermination attempts with bounties and poison have proved useless against such a pervasive species. It does considerable damage to grain crops and storage. The sparrow’s movements between farms expedites the spread of chicken lice and mites and livestock diseases which can be spread by mere physical contact.
A few House Sparrows can multiply into thousands in a few years because they regularly raise three and sometimes as many as five broods per year, each brood averaging around five or six birds.
It builds nests in almost any nook or cranny in farms, towns and cities. The droppings from large flocks roosting on houses and other buildings despoil window trim, porches and ornamental work. It eats buds, young sprouts, flowers and seeds of almost anything, but no insect pests.
It is a persistent adversary of many useful birds, especially those that seek shelter in bird houses or nest near humans including bluebirds, wrens, phoebes, tree swallows, purple martins, song sparrows, chickadees, flycatchers, thrushes, tanagers, robins and more.
Since it is a year around resident it has a head start in the spring, invading the bird houses we place for migrating song birds. It dominates feeders intended for song birds leaving most of the seed on the ground uneaten.
Side Mounted Birdhouse
The Side Mounted Birdhouse has an entrance hole of 1 3/8″ diameter, usually too small for sparrows, but not to small for chickadees, wrens, swallows, nuthatches, titmice and more.
Monitor birdhouses and other nooks and crannies for sparrows and starlings. They can be persistent but you will win.
House Finch Birdhouse
House finches are not typically intimidated by English sparrow bullies at either birdhouses or bird feeders. But the House Finch Birdhouse has a big 2″ entrance opening and needs to be monitored for the flying rats.
If you’re diligent, you might be able to populate your yard and feeder with the more preferable house finch competitors that will be more accommodating to additional song bird species.
The Spruce website has a well written article on Discouraging House Sparrows.
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Forum