January 15, 1999

     A Look at Sparrows

The house sparrow, also called the English sparrow, is neither a native of North America nor a relative of our native sparrows, but belongs to a family of birds called weaver finches.  They are found throughout Europe and in much of Africa and Asia, and were introduced into this country in 1850.

The birds were released in Brooklyn, N.Y., by European immigrants to remind them of home and to control insect pests.  They are now widespread in North America, inhabiting all areas but deserts and high mountains.  This species was introduced in the Twin Cities area in 1875 and became established as a breeding bird two years later.  Many of the early house sparrows perished when weather conditions were especially severe, because it took some years to develope a breed hardy enough to endure the long, cold winter.  Now, they are numerous in the Twin Cities.  House sparrows first reached the Duluth area in 1887.

When living in parks and around shopping centers in cities, house sparrows seldom move more than a mile from their birthplace, but those in small towns and suburbs often flock to outlying small grain and hay fields in the summer.  Shelter in winter is essential; a sparrow without a roost and food will die after about 15 hours at 32 degrees fahrenheit.  Sparrows often roost together in ivy-covered walls, but in cold weather, they can be found roosting singly in niches and cornors of buildings.