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House Sparrow - (Passer domesticus)
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April 21, 2009 - We
raised our first purple martin house in the open
area of the front yard. After purchasing a
twelve apartment building- white, or course,
with a blue roof, we had trouble finding the
appropriate pole to mount it. After searching
several stores and the internet, we were finally
equipped to start (with speedy service from the
manufacturer of the home).
After several days, the first birds swooped
around the house and stopped to look in some of
the openings. These tree swallows were quickly
chased away by very persistent house sparrows.
One by one most of the apartments were filled
with very busy females, carrying sticks and nest
stuff back to their chosen apartments. They
would push and then pull the little twigs and
dried vegetation through the holes until no nest
evidence hung outside the doorway.
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The male house sparrows
seemed to take turns guarding the female
activity from the vantage points of the plastic
"antenna" perches. The tree swallows went in
search of more private nesting boxes in the
backyard. While we haven't watched the house
with any regularity, it seeds oddly quiet and
inactive after a day or two of frantic nest
building. We'll be paying more attention now.
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March
2, 2009 - We had several sightings of the house
sparrow today because of the pictures captured
by the Wingscapes camera (motion activated). We
get excited about almost any bird or creature
who might venture into our backyard.
It is acceptable to destroy a house sparrows
nest and eggs because they are not a native
bird of North America and therefore not
federally protected. We certainly have some
cause to dislike these birds for their
destructive behavior to to our nesting bluebirds
(see history below). However, it's been noted
recently that these birds are quite remarkable
and actually dearly loved in other areas of the
world.
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House
sparrows inhabit all continents except
Antarctica, and thus are the most widely
distributed wild bird. They settle around
humans; and the replacement of natural habitats
with buildings and farm lands has not affected
these birds as adversely as other birds. They
are even happy to use our discarded trash as
part of their nesting materials. |
Physical traits of the house sparrow also make
for better survival. They have the shortest
incubation time of any bird; and both parents
work very hard feeding the young at a faster
rate (3 to 4 times) than that of other birds.
Feeding the nestlings high-protein larvae of
many insects acts as a natural pesticide, thus
helping the planet, as well. |
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These facts, taken with the
recent knowledge that humanity has so changed
the natural environment that even populations of
house sparrows are decreasing (especially in
areas of the world that these birds can call
their native homes), I find a justification for
not destroying the house sparrow nesting
activity in my backyard.
We like all birds in general
and enjoy watching them do what comes naturally
to them. We may modify behavior by moving bird
feeders around, serving certain types of bird
food and planting native trees, shrubs and
flowers for the food and shelter they provide.
We even provide nesting materials and have added
many new bird houses in the hope that we can
accommodate as many birds as possible in our own
little habitat.
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November
16, 2008 - While scanning the backyard looking
for photo opportunities, I noticed a group of
ground grazers that
consisted of
mourning doves, blue jays and several
sparrow-like birds. I was expecting to see
American tree sparrows, since these guys were
with us all last winter. I had only one
sighting of them this fall in mid October.
I've been
watching for this
group ever since the chipping
sparrows left
the first day of September. Instead, I saw
several house sparrows, both male and female. I
hadn't seen these guys since last June, when
their last fledgling had left the nest they
placed in one of the birdhouses. |
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This sparrow-like bird is
actually a weaver finch and not really related
to our domestic sparrows. Around 1850 New York
City was plagued with green inch worms that were
destroying trees. None of the local, native
birds would eat them. In desperation, a few
house sparrows from Europe were introduced and
set free in Central Park. These birds, liking
the taste of green inch worms, solved the
problem. They thrived and bred their way across
the whole continental US. Usually seen near
cities and suburban areas, they love being near
people and buildings. |
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Messy nests are built of whatever scraps can
be found in whatever crevice available.
However, the house sparrow has become a
problem for native birds as they often find it
preferable to steal nesting areas from bluebirds
and swallows.
They attracted our attention when we followed
the real estate wars in our backyard in early
May. The tree swallows moved the bluebirds
from the closest bird house (for photo
purposes), then found they needed to defend it
from the house sparrows. The bluebirds had
settled into their second choice and laid three
eggs. The house sparrows, who had been
surprisingly defeated by the swallows, were more
successful in removing the bluebirds.
After they settled into the second birdhouse, we
sadly found the three bluebird eggs smashed on
the ground right under the house. The
bluebird pair had left our backyard for the
season.
The tree swallow continued to build her nest
and found pieces of a plastic bag. She placed
them in her birdhouse and backed out to find
even more decorative accessories. Unaware of the
static electricity power of plastic, she
flew away with a part of the bag clinging to
her. Flight helped release the bag.
As the plastic dropped, an opportunistic house
sparrow swooped in, caught it on the fly and put
it in his own birdhouse. Mission accomplished!
He came back out of his house and sat
proudly on his pole.
The house sparrows successfully raised at
least two young. We got a quick view of
their first flights. We didn't see a lot
of the house sparrow family after the babies
became independent.
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Size:
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Length: 5.5-6.5 in
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Weight: 1 oz |
Wingspan: 9-9.5 in |
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ID:
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Male: Black bib, gray crown and
undersides; rufous wings and nape;
grayish white cheeks; white wing bar;
brown back and wings with black
streaking; short, conical dark bill;
reddish gray anisodactylous feet (three
toes point forward and one toe points
backward)
Female: Brown crown; buffy underparts;
no bib; yellowish gray bill
Juvenile: Similar to female but browner
upperparts, buffier underparts; pinkish
bill
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Habitat:
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Residential areas, parks, urban
settings, and cultivated land; not seen
in undeveloped or thickly forested areas
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Diet:
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Insects and spiders, seed and grain,
and fruits; mostly ground feeder
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits: Monogamous usually for
life although some are promiscuous; most
pairs gather in small colonies; male
will spread wings and bow to female; 2-3
broods per year
Local Breeding Period: Usually May,
but could be variable
Nests: Messy sphere of grass, straw,
feathers, and debris placed in available
cavities in trees or buildings; will
oust other birds from nesting boxes;
male chooses site, but both sexes build;
incorporate discarded trash; may reuse
for next brood or return the following
year
Eggs: 4-6 white or greenish white with
brown or gray speckles especially on
wider end; mostly female incubates 10-14
days
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless,
naked, eyes closed) and stay in nest
14-17 days; fed by both parents
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Social Activities:
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Aggressive and noisy; foraging flocks
also roost together; closely associates
with humans who are often unwittingly
provide housing and food for these very
adaptable birds
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Range:
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Southern Canada, all of US and
Mexico
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Vocalization:
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Song a nonmusical, monotonous series
of chirps, cheep, cheep, cheep; call
short fillip
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| Lifespan: |
Up to 7 years |
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