Chipping Sparrows in Minnesota
When chipping sparrows are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect chipping sparrows in Minnesota
Chipping Sparrows are summer residents in Minnesota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, leafhoppers and caterpillars.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, chipping sparrows typically nest from May–July. Nest site: loose cup lined with hair, 3–10 ft up in conifers or shrubs. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 10–15 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.
A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Chipping Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Minnesota plants that attract chipping sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover chipping sparrows use:
Nectar and seed.
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Feeding chipping sparrows through the Minnesota year
Chippers feed on lawns and low platforms and nest in ornamental evergreens near houses.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower chips.
- In Minnesota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for chipping sparrows · Best feeder for chipping sparrows
Frequently asked
Are chipping sparrows in Minnesota year-round?
No. Chipping Sparrows are summer breeders in Minnesota and leave for the winter.
When do chipping sparrows nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 10–15 days.
What native plants attract chipping sparrows in Minnesota?
Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for chipping sparrows.
Chipping Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
Sources
- Chipping Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chipping Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chipping Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Minnesota
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.