Chipping Sparrows in North Dakota
When chipping sparrows are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
When to expect chipping sparrows in North Dakota
Chipping Sparrows are summer residents in North Dakota, 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 northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Nesting in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, 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.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
- Chipping Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, sugar maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native North Dakota plants that attract chipping sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover chipping sparrows use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
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.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Feeding chipping sparrows through the North Dakota year
Chippers feed on lawns and low platforms and nest in ornamental evergreens near houses.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower chips.
- In North Dakota'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 North Dakota year-round?
No. Chipping Sparrows are summer breeders in North Dakota and leave for the winter.
When do chipping sparrows nest in North Dakota?
Nesting in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for chipping sparrows.
Chipping Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Dakota
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 — North Dakota
- 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.