Male House Sparrow have black throats and chest patches, light cheeks and brown nape. The female has a plain brownish chest and dull eye-stripe.
Damage
House
Sparrows are often a nuisance in urban areas like manufacturing and food
processing plants. Gutters and drainage pipes clogged with sparrow nests
can backup and cause extensive water damage and
fires have been attributed to electrical shorts casued by machinery housing
sparrow nests. Lastly, feces buildup can lead to structural damage from
the uric acid in droppings, plus the bacteria, fungal agents and parasites
in the feces also pose a health risk.
Control
The most effective method of control is to exclude sparrows from the area
with 3/4" StealthNet, making
sure there are no gaps or crevices for the birds to pass through. The
only ledge deterrent systems that are truly effective against sparrows
are electrified ledge systems that use an intermittent pulse like Bird-Shock.
New 2-chambered Sparrow
Traps are quite effective at trapping small quantities
of sparrows. The best trap has an elevated second chamber that keeps the
birds happy and so content that they actually sing, attracting others
to the trap. When practical, the trapping program should be combined with
a nest removal program that will greatly reduce the population over time.
Along with trapping, mist nets can be installed in the flight paths by
certified personnel to capture these birds in enclosed areas. A
new technique that has found some success for moving populations is to
fog problem areas with ReJeX-iT.
This method is most commonly applied when sparrows gather in flocks. Sparrows
generally do not react to audio and visual products except occasionally
in areas to which they are not very committed (new to area).
Nesting
They build large nests relative to size which function as the center of
all activity. They prefer small enclosed places such as house shutters,
drainage piping, building rafters and corrugated metal siding. They will
build a spherical nest in a tree or another exposed place if they have no
other option. The building material will be sticks, with an inside lining
of grass, string, fabrics or straw. The nest will often hold several families.
Breeding
House sparrows only mate for a season. They average three broods per mating
season with each brood containing four to seven eggs with 20 offspring a
year average. Egg coloration will be white, pale blue or pale green with
a few gray or brown dots. If unchecked, a breeding pair can grow to over
2,000 birds in two to three years.
Cycles
House Sparrows are not migratory, but in cold climates can show movement
between rural/suburban breeding sites and warmer winter roosting sites in
the city. House Sparrows are aggressive birds and will often force out other
birds from their territories. They are flocking birds and will gather in
the thousands to take over feeding and roosting areas.
Sparrow
Quick Facts
Height/Weight Life Span Flight Speed Range Food Habitat Effective Control Products
5”-6”/1oz
1-2 years in the wild up to 10 captivity
5 to 39 mph
Across country rural to urban areas
Seeds, grains insects and fruits
Trees and building structures
3/4” StealthNet,
Bird-Shock, Trapping,
fogging with ReJeX-iT
