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House sparrows were introduced from England into the United States in 1850. There are many naturally occurring species of sparrows also in the U.S. but they are not considered pests in or around buildings.
The house sparrow is a small but stocky bird 5.5 to 6.5 inches in length. The male can be distinguished from all common native sparrows by its black throat and upper breast and ash gray crown. It also has a chestnut colored cape extending from the eyes along the side and back of the neck.
House sparrows are a social bird, nesting closely to one another and flying and feeding in small flocks. Nests of almost any easily obtained material are built on almost any conceivable elevated place.
Sparrows feed on a wide variety of cereals and seeds and their diet includes young seedlings, buds and flowers and small soft fruits. The house sparrow has become almost dependent on humans for both food sources and nesting sites.
In addition to messy nests and the contamination and defacement caused by droppings, sparrows damage soft insulation in warehouses and in livestock facilities. Their nests have been known to cause short circuits and fires.
House sparrows have been implicated in the transmission of more than 25 diseases to humans and domestic animals including psittacosis, salmonellae and several forms of encephalitis. Sparrows in and around poultry and hog farms, because of their disease-carrying potential, are of concern to farmers.
When house sparrows become a nuisance, the right equipment and trapping technique will help you capture and remove them. The Kage-All® Bird Trap is a safe and humane way to catch and hold sparrows.
Use a sufficient amount of bait and place inside the trap. A pan of water in the trap is also recommended. Bird feed placed inside the trap lures pest birds in. The walk-through design allows birds to easily walk in, but not out.
The house sparrow is not protected by federal or state laws. Check for any local laws that may prohibit control by certain methods.
The systematic destruction of nests and eggs at 10 to 12 day intervals will reduce reproduction and eventually move the birds from a building. All nests that are knocked down should be cleaned up and destroyed to prevent the birds from reusing the material and to prevent the spread of nest parasites.
While there are many different species of sparrow, the house sparrow, true sparrow, and Eurasian sparrow are the most common species in North America. Sparrows have been reported to carry diseases that affect humans, such as salmonellosis and West Nile Virus (via mosquitoes).
One of the most prevalent species of sparrow, the house sparrow, lives year-round throughout the United States. These sparrows are known to nest and live in cities, towns, suburbs, and farms. In rural settlements, they prefer to nest in buildings that are in close proximity to livestock. House sparrows are rare to find outside of human settlements in remote areas such as forests or grasslands.
What You Need To Know About The House Sparrow
What do house sparrows look like?
Small in size, around 6.9-6.7 inches long
Male house sparrows have brown and black body feathers and also have gray heads, white cheeks, and a black bib on their front feathers
Female house sparrows have brown body feathers and gray underbelly
What do house sparrows eat?
Eat mostly grain and seeds
Can eat insects
Will eat discarded food in urban settings
Where do house sparrows live?
Nest in holes of structures (buildings, streetlights, signs, etc.)
Can build nests in vine-covered buildings
Can nest in holes in the tree, but that is not very common for this species
What are the signs of a house sparrow infestation?
Lots of bird noises and calls
Droppings
Visible damage to structures either from birds making nests or bird droppings
Lots of stray material and feathers are common near nesting areas
Why do house sparrows invade my home or business?
Availability of food, freshwater, and places for safe breeding
How do I get rid of house sparrows?
Contact a pest control professional
Attempt to use live traps
Utilize different bird deterrents around your property or building, such as bird spikes or reflective
Tips To Prevent The House Sparrow
Cover up any holes or openings on buildings that are 0.75 inches or larger
Use bird deterrents that are tactile (e.g., bird spikes), sound-based, or visual devices.
Use a live trap such as the Kness Kage-All® Bird Trap and bait the trap with cracked corn
While not native to the United States, the Eurasian tree sparrow was introduced in the St. Louis area of the Midwest in the 1800s and has lived there ever since. Unlike the house sparrow, the Eurasian tree sparrow prefers to live away from urban areas. It will be most commonly found in farms and lightly wooded residential areas of the Midwest regions of eastern Missouri, southeastern Iowa, and western Illinois.
What You Need To Know About The Eurasian Tree Sparrow
What do Eurasian tree sparrows look like?
Small size, around 5.5-5.9 inches in length
Light-brown feathers on the head
Dark-brown and speckled black body feathers
White cheek feathers with a black spot
What do Eurasian tree sparrows eat?
Commonly eats grains, seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects
These birds often forage together in groups
Where do Eurasian tree sparrows live?
Most commonly nest in trees
Will build nests in buildings, bird nest boxes, fence posts, etc.
What are the signs of a Eurasian tree sparrow infestation?
Why do Eurasian tree sparrows invade my home or business?
How do I get rid of Eurasian tree sparrows?
Tips To Prevent The Eurasian Tree Sparrow
When house sparrows become a nuisance, the right equipment and trapping technique will help you capture and remove them. Kness has a full line of control solutions for you to utilize to take care of your sparrow problems.
Kness Kage-All® Bird Trap
Kness Avian Away™ Solar-Powered Bird Deterrent
Use a sufficient amount of bait and place it inside the trap. A pan of water in the trap is also recommended. Birdfeed placed inside the trap lures pest birds in. The walk-through design allows birds to walk in but not out easily.
Federal or state laws do not protect the house sparrow. Check for any local laws that may prohibit control by certain methods.
The systematic destruction of nests and eggs at 10 to 12-day intervals will reduce reproduction and eventually move the birds from a building. All nests that are knocked down should be cleaned up and destroyed to prevent the birds from reusing the material again and stop the spread of nest parasites.
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