• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

    Mississippi

    National River & Recreation Area Minnesota

Sparrow (House)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is one of the introduced species that has succeeded greatly in North America. The species is native to Britain, northern Scandinavia, and northern Siberia to northern Africa, Arabia, India, and Burma.

The number of house sparrows in North America is estimated at approximately 150,000,000 birds, but the Breeding Bird Survey data indicates that the population is declining. House sparrows are common throughout the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, with most being found around areas of human activity, such as farms and cities.

This invasive species vigorously competes with our native bluebirds for nesting cavities and will destroy eggs and nests of these more desirable birds.

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A house sparrow sits on a twig.
 

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Key ID Features: Male shown in photograph. Female is more uniformly brown and streaked above.

Present in Park: Year round.

Habitat: Cities and farms.

Did You Know?

Canoeists in the Mississippi River Gorge

A canoe trip in the Mississippi River Gorge between Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN feels like you are miles away from civilization even though you are in the center of a large metropolitan area.