How to attract American tree sparrows to your yard
American Tree Sparrows respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 50 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. It arrives only to breed in 4, such as Alaska, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, so set up before spring arrival. It is a winter visitor in 46, including Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho and 40 more, where feeders and winter fruit matter most.
Plant what American tree sparrows use
These native plants are tied to the American Tree Sparrow in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial | 44 | Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows. |
| Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Perennial | 43 | Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches. |
| Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Perennial | 42 | Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 42 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | Perennial | 36 | Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 32 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Sugar maple Acer saccharum | Tree | 28 | Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. |
| Common sunflower Helianthus annuus | Perennial | 25 | Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed. |
| Red maple Acer rubrum | Tree | 20 | Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants. |
| Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea | Perennial | 18 | Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches. |
Your list covers 2 plant layers (perennial, tree). Layering matters: add structure around these — a shrub layer under the trees gives American tree sparrows a safe approach. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Seeds in winter; insects on the Arctic breeding grounds.
- Warm months
- Insects on the tundra
- Cold months
- Grass and weed seeds
- At feeders
- Millet, Hulled sunflower
Feeder style matters as much as food: low ground tray under cover is the first choice for this bird. A winter-only visitor to most of the U.S.; forages in weedy fields and under feeders. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Cup on the ground in tundra shrubs.
It does not use nest boxes, so the way to host a nest is cover: keep dense native shrubs, vines or trees of the kind listed above, and avoid pruning them during the nesting season.
- Clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–13 days
- Nestling period
- 8–10 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; a summer breeder won't appear until it returns in spring.
Frequently asked
What attracts American tree sparrows to a yard?
Food they actually eat (millet, hulled sunflower), native plants such as Black-eyed Susan, Wild bergamot, Little bluestem, clean water and suitable nesting cover: cup on the ground in tundra shrubs.
What plants attract American tree sparrows?
Across the American Tree Sparrow's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting American tree sparrows?
Nesting starts around July in Alaska and as late as July in Yukon. Have cover, water ready a month before.
Sources
- American Tree Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Tree Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Tree Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.