Sparrows are not the most loved birds out there, but watching them and their nesting patterns can be quite enjoyable. If you do wish to draw in these five to six inch birds, with their gray crown and white feathered cheeks, one way to do so is with food.
Their Diet
Tube feeders make a great choice for sparrows because their diet consists mostly of small seeds. They also consume fruits and some invertebrates during the summer months. Most commercial brands of bird food are an okay choice, but you may want to upgrade the quality to keep the sparrows coming back time and time again for more. Generally, they will eat buckwheat, wheat seeds, sunflower, blackberries, mulberries and clover and most other types of grain seeds. These birds do like to look for food so you may see them under a hanging bird feeder, collecting the food that other birds have allowed to fall to the ground.
They also consume insects. When selecting a location for the tube feeders, then, choose an area a bit away from your home, perhaps a wooded area, where spiders and other insects are easily found. These birds will consume most types of insects so having them in your yard can be a good thing.
While you should only feed birds actual bird food, some sparrows will come to you and feed if you toss them food. They will eat food scraps and birdseed that you toss towards them. They are unlikely, though, to eat from your hand. In addition, they can be aggressive birds. You do not necessarily want children or pets to be near to their food source as they will attack. Give them some time to get used to you as being their feeder before you try tossing food to them.
Nesting
Most sparrows will nest year round. This means that when you select a location for your tube feeder, choose one that is located just far enough away where there is some type of nesting location or material. Avoid bird houses, as these are not likely to be used by the sparrow. However, you will find them nesting near to you, including in your buildings. To avoid this, place the tube feeder far enough away from your home and closer to a tree or shrub instead. The birds will use scraps of anything to create their nests including grasses, twigs and paper.
To draw in sparrows to your backyard, remember the importance of quality food. Most sparrows are not picky, but do want fresh food that is easily accessible. Tube bird feeders are a great way to supply that food to your birds.
Their Diet
Tube feeders make a great choice for sparrows because their diet consists mostly of small seeds. They also consume fruits and some invertebrates during the summer months. Most commercial brands of bird food are an okay choice, but you may want to upgrade the quality to keep the sparrows coming back time and time again for more. Generally, they will eat buckwheat, wheat seeds, sunflower, blackberries, mulberries and clover and most other types of grain seeds. These birds do like to look for food so you may see them under a hanging bird feeder, collecting the food that other birds have allowed to fall to the ground.
They also consume insects. When selecting a location for the tube feeders, then, choose an area a bit away from your home, perhaps a wooded area, where spiders and other insects are easily found. These birds will consume most types of insects so having them in your yard can be a good thing.
While you should only feed birds actual bird food, some sparrows will come to you and feed if you toss them food. They will eat food scraps and birdseed that you toss towards them. They are unlikely, though, to eat from your hand. In addition, they can be aggressive birds. You do not necessarily want children or pets to be near to their food source as they will attack. Give them some time to get used to you as being their feeder before you try tossing food to them.
Nesting
Most sparrows will nest year round. This means that when you select a location for your tube feeder, choose one that is located just far enough away where there is some type of nesting location or material. Avoid bird houses, as these are not likely to be used by the sparrow. However, you will find them nesting near to you, including in your buildings. To avoid this, place the tube feeder far enough away from your home and closer to a tree or shrub instead. The birds will use scraps of anything to create their nests including grasses, twigs and paper.
To draw in sparrows to your backyard, remember the importance of quality food. Most sparrows are not picky, but do want fresh food that is easily accessible. Tube bird feeders are a great way to supply that food to your birds.
