If you’re looking on how to attract sparrows to your backyard, there are many ideas and strategies that you can try.
In this article, I will discuss how you can attract sparrows to your backyard. After reading this article, you should be able to find the right plan for you.
Table of Contents
Types of Sparrows
- American Tree Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Clay-colored Sparrow
- Fox Sparrow
- Harris’s Sparrow
- Leconte’s Sparrow
- Lincoln’s Sparrow
- Nelson’s Sparrow
- Savannah Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Swamp Sparrow
- Vesper Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- House Sparrows
Foods that Attract Sparrows
In the wild, sparrows will eat almost anything, including: corn, oats, wheat, sorghum, food scraps, ragweed, crabgrass, buckwheat, insects, berries, and fruits.
If you want to attract sparrows to your yard, there are a few things that you can do. For instance, they like almost any seed mixes and will eat sunflower seeds, cracked corn, white millet, milo as well as peanuts.
Get a Bird Feeder
In order to entice more sparrows, it’s important that you choose the right type of feeder. There are a couple of different types available, and choosing the one that will work best for you will depend greatly on your specific needs.
I would recommend using one of the following, a tube feeder, tray feeder, dish feeder, or a platform feeder with a commercial birdseed that contains sunflower seeds, milo, and/or millet. I always have had the best success using a Squirrel-proof Bird Feeder with the Wagners Variety Blend. You can find both products on Amazon.
I find the squirrel-proof bird feeder is best because it requires little clean up, and it protects the food from predators and it will not attract any pests.
Use a Birdbath
First, you need to understand that sparrows like water, so you need to make sure that you have a birdbath in your yard. This is probably the most obvious method, but it’s the most important one for attracting sparrows into your yard.
The key is to place a large, shallow birdbath in your yard, and it needs to be near the bird feeder for best results. I would recommend this bird bath from Best Choice it looks great in any yard, and it has a beautiful bronze color that sure does attract a ton of birds.
One of the biggest problems with birdbaths is that they can get very dirty quickly. You will want to make sure that your birdbath is thoroughly-cleaned on a regular basis.
How to clean a bird bath: Cleaning your bird bath is an easy process that can take as little as five minutes per week. Here’s how: -Rinse off any leaves or debris from the water with a hose -Mix one cup of vinegar with three cups of hot water and pour this mixture into the birdbath bowl -Scrub the bowl thoroughly, even the edges, with a brush – Next rinse well.
*Birdbaths that are dirty are a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which is exactly what you don’t want to attract. Besides keeping birdbaths clean, you also need to make sure that they get plenty of sun and plenty of water.
Get a Birdhouse
Birdhouses (nesting boxes) can be a good way to attract sparrows. Sparrows will often use these nesting boxes, especially if they are near trees or shrubs that provide cover for the birds.
It is important to place your box on a pole at least 8 feet high and keep it away from anything that might interfere with its accessibility, such as large tree branches, and place is out of reach from predators like cats or squirrels
Birdhouses made out of cedar wood are better than those made out of other materials. Cedar birdhouses are weather-resistant and can last longer than other types of birdhouses. I would recommend this cedar Birdhouse by Woodsmith. I found the lowest price was on Amazon.
Plants that Attract Sparrows
Having one or more of the following plants will make it easier to entice some sparrows into your yard, these include:
- Elderberry
- Crabgrass
- American Elm
- Maple
- Willow Oak
- Yellow Poplar
- Wild Grape
- Sumac
- Holly
- Black Willow
- Dogwood
- Red Cedar
- Cherry
- Sweetgum
Common Predators
Sparrows have numerous predators such as hawks, falcons, merlins, owls, dogs, cats, raccoons, snakes, and many more.
More Tips
- Create a bird feeder in your backyard and place it near bushes, trees, or other natural hiding places for the birds.
- Set up birdhouses in different areas of your yard- this will make it seem like there is more than one spot for them to nest which increases their likelihood of choosing your home as a nesting ground.
- Place food out for them every day- You may not know this, but one reason why sparrows might stay away from your yard is because there isn’t enough food.
- Sparrows are attracted to many things in nature such as sunflower seeds, fresh water and high places for a lookout point.
- Keep your yard well-maintained so that there are lots of places for them to hide.
- Provide plenty of fresh water and feeders with a variety of seeds.
- Put a few suet cakes in an open spot where the birds will be able to find them easily and feel welcome.
- Avoid using pesticides near areas where sparrows congregate.
- Put out bird feeders in the winter months, so they have food and water when other sources freeze over.
- Put out suet cakes in a suet feeder in winter months when they are not eating seeds as much.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors attract house sparrows?
House sparrows are attracted to red, orange and yellow colors. Red is the most popular color that attracts house sparrows. The next best color is orange. Yellow will also attract some house sparrows, but not as many as the other two colors mentioned.
What month do house sparrows lay eggs?
House sparrows lay eggs from February to September. The timing of egg laying is related to the birds’ breeding season, which in North America starts as early as January and continues until late October or November.
Do sparrows eat bread?
Sparrows eat bread, but it’s not good for them. Yes, they will eat bread when given the opportunity to do so, but that doesn’t mean it is healthy for them.
Do house sparrows mate for life?
House sparrows have a tendency to mate for life, although they will seek out other mates if their partner dies or disappears. However, it is more common for house sparrows to find new partners than to form lifelong partnerships because there is such an abundance of them.
What should you not feed sparrows?
Many people like to feed sparrows when they see them, but not all food is good for these birds. Here are some foods you should never give a sparrow: – Bird seed that has been left out for a long time – Popcorn kernels – Bread crumbs or toast crumbs from the kitchen – Any kind of seeds from fruits and vegetables.
