The house sparrow, often simply called a sparrow, is a widespread songbird highly adapted to living near humans. It inhabits towns, villages, and agricultural areas, and prefers to nest in cavities in buildings, under eaves, or in nest boxes. Although small, it can become a nuisance in large groups due to noise, droppings, and nesting material. It defends its territories loudly and exhibits pronounced social behavior.
House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
- Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
- Phylum: Chordates (Chordata)
- Class: Birds (Aves)
- Order: Passeriformes (Passerine birds)
- Family: Sparrows (Passeridae)
- Genus: Passer
- Species: House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Size:
- Body length: 14 to 16 cm
- Wingspan: 21 to 25 cm
- Weight: 24 to 38 g
Look:
- Males: grey head, black throat patch, brown flanks and neck, black and brown striped back
- Females: more simply colored, without a throat patch, with a light brown breast and a distinct light eye stripe.
- Both sexes with short, strong beaks
Way of life:
- Diurnal
- Lives year-round in Central Europe
- Very sociable, forms small to medium-sized groups
- Often observed at feeding stations, on roofs, in hedges or facade niches
Reproduction:
- Breeding season: March to August
- Multiple broods per year are possible
- Each clutch: 4 to 6 eggs, incubation period approximately 14 days.
- Young birds fledge after approximately 16 days.
Nest locations:
- Cavities in buildings, roof overhangs, ventilation openings
- Roller shutter boxes, facade gaps, under roof tiles
- Nesting boxes or artificial nesting aids
- It also breeds in flocks side by side.
Nutrition:
- Primarily seed eaters
- Food: Seeds, grains, buds, insects (especially for raising young)
- In cities: frequent ingestion of leftover food, bread, waste
Behave:
- Highly adaptable
- Partly remaining in the same location for many years
- Aggressive towards other members of the species when defending their territory
- Droppings are usually located directly near the nest.
- Distinctive vocalizations (chirping, chittering)
Building damage:
- Accumulations of nesting material can clog ventilation openings and gutters.
- Contamination by feces on facades, window sills, roof overhangs
- Pigeon droppings-like deposits on solar panels or terraces
Noise & nuisance:
- Loud and persistent chirping, especially early in the morning and when defending territory
- In group nests: constant noise level during the breeding season
Disease transmission:
- Feces can contain fungi and bacteria (e.g., salmonella).
- Nesting sites attract parasites such as bird fleas, mites, or ticks.
Building and nest protection:
- Secure facade openings, ventilation pipes and roof overhangs with wire mesh or perforated metal sheets.
- Regularly check and clean roller shutter boxes
- Pigeon nets or fine barriers are also effective against sparrows.
Hygiene:
- No feeding , not even indirectly via waste.
- Dispose of waste in sealed containers.
- Professional removal of nesting materials and droppings (outside of the breeding season).
Behave:
- Check breeding sites regularly.
- Have nest removal carried out well before the rearing phase.
- In case of heavy soiling: disinfection by a specialist company