The House Sparrow

It's a familiar mantra to anyone who feeds birds as a hobby:  "Sparrows don't like it."  For years, I was puzzled as to why, until I began to attract more and more sparrows to my feeders, to the extent that other birds were scared away.

Sparrows are aggressive.  I have seen them attack grosbeaks at my safflower seed feeder even though they do not care for safflower seed, presumably because they think there might be something there they want to eat.  I have seen them attack orioles at my oriole feeder in order to get most of the jelly.  The one bird they always seem to get along with is the Northern Cardinal, which for some unbeknownst region has a tendency to come eat when the sparrows are around (maybe because the sparrows serve as lookouts).  Other than that, practically any other bird is a suitable target for their bullying.

Sparrow by thistle feeder (photo by SCB)

With that being said, I have a confession to make:  I feed sparrows.  I don't feed them all of the time, and sometimes I feed them resentfully, but I do feed them.  Some of it is due to choice (I feel bad for them) and sometimes it is not (sparrows will find a way to access almost any feeder, whether it is sparrow proof or not).  Years ago, I was told the way to make sure only woodpeckers could access my suet feeder was to hang it upside down, and it was true...except for sparrows.  They have learned to hang upside on the feeders just like the woodpeckers and pull suet loose.  They have also learned to attack the woodpeckers at the precise moment they manage to pull suet free, causing them to drop whatever they have managed to extract.

Sparrows will also bully other birds out of their next boxes and take over them for their own fledglings. Since sparrows have several broods a year, this is a fairly common practice, making nesting more challenging for native birds such as bluebirds.

Sparrows, however, do have some advantages.

If you like hawks, you will definitely see them whenever you have a lot of sparrows around.  Hawks seem to have a special fondness for them, and will often pursue them, especially in the winter months, when their other prey is harder to find.

Sparrows are also good at keeping insect populations in check, probably because there are so many of them around!

Finally, I have to admit they are pretty (even if they do have very bad manners!)  While they may not be my favorite bird to watch, I have to admit I do enjoy them at times.