House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Jennifer Baldy
Grandville, MI. 5/2/2004 © John Van Orman (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)
This gregarious little bird is found in virtually cavity-nesting species population declines are directly attributed to competition from the all areas of North America, but has a distinct House Sparrow. preference for areas of human residence where food and shelter are readily available. The Distribution House Sparrow is an invasive exotic that rapidly The initial rapid expansion of the House filled the sub-tundra portions of the North Sparrow across the North American continent American continent since its introduction as can be attributed to its colonial nesting habits. It early as 1850, followed by a series of re- initially found plentiful habitat in a largely rural introductions both intentional and accidental. America within barns and architecture. Staying The purposeful and persistent introduction of near people where it could feed on oat-laden this species to North America was supported by horse-droppings, farm fields and barn-yard ornithologists of the time as a method of waste it reached a peak of abundance in the biological control of caterpillars, an idea which early 1900s (Eastman 1991). Around the turn of soon proved misguided, as grains are the the last century the species began a steady primary food source although some insect foods decline that continues today. Beginning with are utilized during the breeding season (Eastman bounties in 1887, the replacement of the horse 1991). Introduction was also promoted by with the automobile, and the decline of the naturalists who wished to bring Old World family farm, the nesting and feeding options for species to the Americas. this still numerous species are becoming more
limited as modern architecture creates designs The House Sparrow, which began its existence that limit the cracks and crevices that have been in North America because it was so beloved by home to the House Sparrow since its fellow human immigrants, has since become introduction. There is speculation that despised because of its effect on the native competition with the House Finch, a relatively avifauna. Other cavity-nesting species such as new species in the Midwest, has contributed to the Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Tufted the decline of the House Sparrow (Peterjohn and Titmouse, Cliff Swallow, Purple Martin, Downy Rice 1991), however this is disputed by Bennett Woodpecker and Chickadee must all compete (1990) and Holder (2003). with the aggressive House Sparrow. Some
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Jennifer Baldy
young were observed from 6 May until 31 July, The species’ range in Michigan, as in other however active nests have been reported outside northern states and territories, is showing a this period. contraction from higher latitudes. While breeding observations in MBBA II were made Abundance and Population Trends almost as far north as in MBBA I, they were (Click to view trends from the BBS) less prevalent. Only about 10% of the There has been significant decline in House townships in the UP reported breeding evidence, Sparrow numbers in Michigan of 4.15% down from 23% despite an increase in the according to the Breeding Bird Survey over the number of records collected in this region years 1983-2007 (Sauer et al. 2008). This is during MBBA II. Distribution was also patchier greater than the 3.6% decline for the region, in the NLP with only about 58% of townships however this is expected as Michigan is the state reporting breeding evidence, down from 72%. farthest north within the region where there is a contraction of the range as well as a decrease in abundance. Breeding Biology Eleven subspecies of the House Sparrow are House Sparrows reached a peak around 1910- described from the Old World. The subspecies 1920 in both distribution and abundance. introduced into North America is P. d. Declines since then have been due to domesticus, which is native to parts of the introduction of the automobile, cleaner livestock United Kingdom and Germany. Though and farming operations, conversion of marginal derived from a single subspecies, the House farm areas to forest, severe winter weather, and Sparrow has developed geographic variation in increased use of pesticides (Lowther and Cink the short time since its arrival. Birds average 2006). larger in size at higher latitudes and altitudes and with shorter limbs, following both Conservation Needs Bergman’s and Allen’s Rules (Lowther and As an invasive exotic species, views on Cink 2006). The closest relative of the House conservation needs range from extermination to Sparrow present in North America is also an tolerance. Its high degree of success indicates exotic from Europe, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, that it does fill a vacant ecologic niche, perhaps a more recent arrival. Fertile hybrids have been left vacant with the demise of other colonial reported (Barlow and Leckie 2000) between species such as the Carolina Parakeet or the these two closely related species. The House Passenger Pigeon. Despite declines in both Sparrow can have two or three broods per year, range and abundance, there is still a great enhancing its reproductive success. chance that you will see a House Sparrow in all but the very farthest reaches of northern While the House Sparrow is active in Michigan Michigan. As a year-round resident, it stays in year round, courtship activities occurred as early the locality of the nesting area year round and is as 1 March, and nest building as early as 24 subject to die-offs during unusually severe March. This member of the Old World Sparrow winter conditions (Robbins et al. 1986). As a family can construct a nest of grasses in the non-native species, it is not afforded any type of forked branch of a tree in rural areas, but prefers legal protection. Monitoring activities are still and competes for cavities of nest boxes, and justified on this permanent resident as it can those provided by architecture (Harrison 1975). provide valuable information about the effects Nest building observations continued through of global warming, species evolution, and be a the summer ending by 22 July. Nests with valuable “canary in the coal mine”.
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Jennifer Baldy
Suggested Citation Literature Cited Baldy, J. 2011. House Sparrow(Passer Barlow, J.C. and S.N. Leckie. 2000. Eurasian domesticus). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Baldy, Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). In The and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010-2011. The Birds of North America, No. 560 (A. Poole Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. Accessed online at:
© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center