About Sparrows
You can attract many beautiful native Sparrows to bird-friendly backyards. Birders who learn how to draw Sparrows will achieve a more solid appreciation of these friendly birds and their positive traits. In this article, you’ll learn how to build or buy the right Sparrow bird house.
The majority of these species are comparatively small, with sizes varying from 4-8 inches in length, though 5-7 inches is the most frequent range.
The male has a gray crown, black throat, and whitish cheek. The breast and bill are black in summer, and in winter, the breast is gray, and the bill is yellow.
The female has a brown crest and a plain breast with a comprehensive buff line above the eye. Be alert when identifying female Sparrows as they may seem similar to female Finches.
Sparrows are generally granivorous seed-eaters, though they also eat a decent amount of insects. It is particularly true during the summer and spring when the protein from insects is necessary for growing hatchlings.
As with any bird, a yard must meet the applicable requirements for food, shelter, water, and nesting sites to be engaging. To create a yard Sparrow friendly, you must meet Sparrows’ specific demands to make them feel safe and comfortable in the habitat.
About Sparrow Bird Houses
Making a bird house for Sparrows is one of the simplest, most effortless, yet delightful things to do. As these birds are abundant and will nest in various places, all you need are basic materials and even simpler plans. Being small birds, Sparrows require tiny houses as well.
Anyone remotely involved in bird watching activities would have heard several stories of Sparrows taking over various bird houses. It is true, and Sparrows have also been classified under the class “invasive” species.
Place up the Sparrow bird house in a leafy area with lots of shrubbery and trees nearby. Install the bird house on a plated steel pole between 5 to 15 feet over the ground or nail facing a tree trunk in the same scale of heights.
Painting the bird house is not essential because red cedar is a robust and weatherproof wood. If you desire a splash of color, only apply a light hue outside of the bird house once it’s constructed. Never paint the interior of any house; it will draw an excessive amount of heat from the sun.
While it may be a challenging job to draw various types of Sparrows to the backyard, the rewards are more valuable than the efforts when these active birds begin to visit houses and exhibit their subtle distinctions.
By offering essential needs to Sparrows, every bird lover can enjoy the friendship of these lovely birds.
Size Of Sparrow Bird Houses
The most straightforward house that you can build can have these dimensions and a single section.
When building a bird house for the Sparrow, it would be best to use Cedar or Redwood. Keep the floor area about 4 x 4 inches, and the height can be between 9 to 12 inches (inside), as it will offer sufficient space for birds to move freely.
Ensure that you have a hinged roof to prevent the bird house from the rain. The hinges on the top will also help you get an easy way inside the house to clean or other needs.
There should be an entrance hole as well. The diameter of an access hole should be around 32 mm – that’s about 1.2 inches. You can keep the size around this figure and get up to about 2 inches or 50 mm.
For a house with a height between 9 to 12 inches, You should fix the hole somewhere around the 6th or 7th inch above the floor.
Sparrow Bird House Maintenance
A well-made bird house will only need one yearly clean in the autumn. It is essential not to clean out wooden bird houses before September as Sparrows may still be occupied.
● Use boiling water to destroy any left parasites, and let the bird house dry out completely before replacing the lid. You must not use flea powders and Insecticides.
● Wear gloves and make use of a scraper or small brush to remove debris from every corner.
● As these birds are ground feeders, you can sprinkle the seed on the floor instead of placing it in a bird house. When scattering, you should use a more affordable type of seed, such as cracked corn or millet.
● Make sure the site where the Sparrows feed is safe from cats. Construct a fence to block cats from reaching birds. If you own a cat, ensure that it cannot have access to the feeding place.
● Handling baby birds is not advisable for pregnant women or people with weak immune systems. They may transmit viruses such as salmonella, which can infect people.
● Always follow strict hygiene when checking the birds. Thoroughly clean your hands before and aftercare. Dispose of trash only in a sealed bag.
● Try not to make large movements or loud noises near Sparrows; this may frighten them.
Building or Buying Sparrow Bird Houses
Here are some of the Sparrow house plans you can buy or build.
Sparrow Nest House by Birdy Official
This perfect-looking nest box by Birdy officials is built up of 100% natural and durable wood. One of the most valuable gifts you can give to nature enthusiasts. The house will ideally support Sparrows to raise their young and keep predators out.
DIY House Sparrow Nest Box
This beautiful DIY Classic Wooden Bird house plan gives a lovely touch to your outdoor garden or backyard. The house provides Sparrows with a secure place to form a nest and raise young.
Bluebird House Plan for Sparrow
Bluebird houses are pretty straightforward, with a small access hole and a large roof for additional protection. Small birds like House Sparrows frequently take over Bluebirds’ boxes. Bluebird house is also an excellent choice for a Sparrow house.
Simple Apartment Sparrow House
These bird house kits designed by Mother Earth News are also perfect for Sparrows as they are friendly birds and often nest in groups of dozens or numbers of mated partners.
Single structured “apartment” houses highlight many paths leading to adjacent rooms and serve multiple pairs of sparrows in a bit of space.
Sparrow Nests in Bird Houses
The nesting site of Sparrows can be entirely different. As they love to habitat in areas where humans have created their mark, you can expect to notice nests in the most unexpected places.
You may notice nests of these birds under the eaves, in holes and cracks, in ivy plants, cliffs, banks, bushes, building walls, and most any other aperture. Of course, trees are a natural nesting site as well.
The structure of the Sparrow’s nest depends on its location. The nests that are located in areas that humans highly populate tend to be less constructed. The ones that are found in trees and shrubs are usually better organized.
Their nests are adequately lined with feathers and are usually formed like a dome and built of twigs and other plant material.
When it comes to their eggs, Sparrows are as varied as their nesting areas. Female birds usually lay around 5 to 6 eggs at a time. The eggs can be dusty, speckled with ash-gray, brown, or black with a creamy white or bluish background.
Even the shape and size of sparrow eggs can vary quite a lot. It takes roughly 10 to 12 days for the female to incubate her eggs.
Final Words
You can set goals to bird-watch for these Sparrows after you have placed your bird house in your backyard and record your results.
