You’ve probably seen House Sparrow nests without even realizing it. These birds are experts at making themselves at home, whether that’s in the corner of a building or under the roof of your porch.
House sparrows are pretty busy birds, always flitting around and chirping away. But have you ever wondered about where they live or how they take care of their eggs?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how House Sparrows build their nests and raise their families right in our backyards and all around our neighborhoods. Let’s get started and learn more about these little birds!
House Sparrow Nests & Eggs Quick Facts
| Breeding Range: | Found worldwide, excluding Antarctica and certain oceanic islands. |
| Breeding Season: | March to August |
| Nesting Location: | In cavities or enclosed spaces, including buildings, trees, and birdhouses. |
| Nest Appearance: | Messy, compact, domed structure |
| Nest Materials: | Twigs, grass, leaves, feathers, string, paper, and plastic |
| Nest Size: | 8 x 12 in (20 x 30 cm) |
| Nesting Habits: | Colonial nesters, often found in small groups |
| Egg Size: | 0.8 × 0.6 in (2.2 x 1.6 cm) |
| Egg Color: | White, light brown, greenish-white, or bluish-white, with brown and gray spots |
| Egg Laying: | Typically lays one egg per day until the clutch is complete |
| Clutch Size: | 3–6 eggs |
| Incubation Period: | 10–14 days |
| Number of Broods: | 2–3 broods per year |
House Sparrow Breeding 101
House Sparrows are small, adaptable birds that have successfully made their way into nearly every corner of the world, thriving alongside humans.
To understand why they’re one of the most common bird species worldwide, let’s dive into the key aspects of House Sparrow breeding.
Habitat and Breeding Range
House Sparrows have a vast breeding range that spans across the globe, excluding only the very cold polar regions.
Originally from Europe and Asia, these birds have been introduced to the Americas, Africa, and Australia, where they have quickly adapted to a variety of environments.
They are most commonly found in urban and suburban areas but can also live in rural settings, especially those that are close to human activity.
House Sparrows prefer nesting in or near buildings, in crevices, under roofs, or even in thick vines on walls, making use of the shelter and resources human habitats provide.
Fun Fact: The House Sparrow holds the title of the world’s most widespread wild bird! With an estimated whopping population of 1.6 billion individuals, these little birds have made almost every corner of the globe their home.
Breeding Seasons
The breeding season for House Sparrows typically extends from March through early August. During this time, these birds are highly active in building nests, mating, and raising their young.
The start of the breeding season can vary slightly depending on the geographical location and local climate conditions.
In warmer regions, House Sparrows may start breeding earlier in the year, whereas in cooler areas, the start may be delayed until temperatures rise enough.
What Do House Sparrow Nests Look Like?
House Sparrows craft their nests to fit their environment, creating homes that vary in appearance.
In open areas, their nests appear as spherical, messy bundles. These nests are roughly 8 x 12 inches in size and come with a dome on top for protection.
However, when hidden in nooks or holes, their nests look more like snug tunnels made of dried plants.
These nests are made from a mix of natural materials, like twigs, leaves, and feathers, along with debris that the sparrows find.
The nest’s exterior often looks rough and untidy, which helps it blend in with its surroundings. But inside, it’s a different story. The interior is lined with soft feathers to keep the eggs and chicks warm.
House Sparrow Nesting Habits
House Sparrows cleverly use existing structures for their nests, often choosing places close to human activity.
Ideally, they love to nest in the nooks and crannies of buildings, such as holes under roof eaves or inside abandoned pipes.
Additionally, they inhabit spaces in barns, garages, and other outbuildings that offer shelter and warmth. When these prime spots aren’t available, House Sparrows get creative.
They may nest in natural alternatives like thick bushes or trees, but more often, they adapt to urban environments by nesting in streetlights, behind signs, and in other man-made structures like traffic lights.
What’s truly remarkable about these birds is their loyalty to both their nest sites and their partners. Pairs remain faithful to each other for life and often return to the same nest site year after year.
They’re also known for being quite social and can get pretty noisy, especially when they’re nesting.
They like to live close to other sparrow families, forming small colonies of around 10 to 20 pairs, with nests built closely together.
House Sparrow Nest Construction
When House Sparrows decide to build a nest, they start by picking a spot that’s close to food and safe from predators and bad weather.
The male sparrow usually finds the place and begins by gathering rough stuff like grass, small sticks, and sometimes even bits of trash to get the nest started.
Once the basic shape is in place, both the male and female work together to add softer materials for the lining, such as feathers, string, and paper. This creates a cozy interior for the eggs and, later on, the nestlings.
Interestingly, House Sparrows sometimes build their nests close to one another. In such cases, neighboring nests can even share walls.
What Do House Sparrow Eggs Look Like?
House Sparrow eggs are quite distinctive and easy to identify once you know what to look for. Measuring about 0.8 inches long and 0.6 inches in diameter, these eggs can surprise you with their color variety.
House Sparrows are one of the many species of birds that can lay blue-colored eggs, as well as white, light brown, and greenish-colored ones.
But what really sets their eggs apart are the brown or gray specks, something I noticed when I stumbled upon a nest in my garden shed.
Seeing those eggs up close, I could see that the specks were usually more concentrated towards the wider end of the egg.
The eggs were oval and had a smooth, slightly glossy surface that gave them a subtle shine. It was a small discovery, but it was interesting to see these details firsthand.
Egg Laying and Clutch Size
House Sparrows typically start laying eggs in early spring, as the breeding season begins. They lay one egg each day until their clutch is complete.
They usually end up with a clutch of about 3 to 6 eggs, but it’s not always that straightforward.
Research into how these birds reproduce shows that the number of eggs in a clutch can actually swing from just 1 all the way up to 11.
This variation is influenced by several environmental factors, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, and the availability of food.
These factors play a big role in shaping the reproductive habits of House Sparrows, affecting everything from how many eggs they lay to how often they can do it throughout the breeding season.
Depending on how the year’s weather is going and if there’s plenty of food, most pairs of House Sparrows will raise 2 to 3 broods annually.
Incubation and Hatching
The incubation period for House Sparrow eggs is typically between 10 and 14 days. During this time, both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to make sure they stay at the perfect temperature.
After hatching, the nestlings are completely dependent on their parents for food and protection.
They remain in the nest for about 14 to 17 days, during which they grow rapidly, developing feathers and gaining the strength needed to leave the nest.
House Sparrow parents are attentive and busy during this time, constantly bringing food back to the nest to feed their hungry brood.
After this period, the young sparrows are ready to take their first flight, which marks the end of the nesting cycle and the beginning of their journey to independence.
Fun Fact: Did you know baby sparrows have a special tool to help them hatch? It’s called an “egg tooth“! This unique adaptation, a tiny, sharp bump on their beak, is the only “tooth” you’ll see in birds.
They use this egg tooth as their own little escape tool, cracking and chipping away at the eggshell from the inside when it’s time to hatch. Once they’re out, though, the egg tooth falls off after a few days.
How to Get Rid of House Sparrow Eggs
Dealing with house sparrows, especially after they’ve laid eggs on your property, requires prompt and effective action.
While you can legally remove and destroy their nests and eggs, as House Sparrows are not protected by federal law in the United States, it’s crucial to positively identify these birds first.
Disturbing the nests of native birds without a permit is illegal, so accurate identification is essential to ensure compliance with wildlife protection laws.
Moreover, if you’re uncomfortable handling the eggs or if there are fledglings involved, it’s best to contact a professional wildlife control service. They can manage the situation safely and legally.
To prevent future nesting, ensure your property is less inviting to sparrows by sealing off potential entry points.
Use wire mesh, plastic netting, or expanding foam to block openings larger than 3/4 inch in buildings and other structures. Also, make sure food sources are inaccessible to discourage sparrows from returning.
Meanwhile, if you’re having issues with House Sparrows taking over your bird feeders and are looking for an effective yet simple solution, you might want to check out this video:
Have you ever discovered house sparrow nests and eggs in your own backyard? Share your stories or any questions you have in the comments below!
