House Sparrows in Alabama

House Sparrows live in Alabama all year. Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid subtropical, with Gulf-influenced warmth in Mobile and Baldwin counties and cooler Appalachian foothills in the northeast.

Across Alabama, house sparrows typically nest from March–August. Nest site: messy grass nest in any cavity, including nest boxes. Females lay 4–6 eggs, incubate for 10–14 days, and young leave the nest after 14 days.

Long, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms — ventilated boxes and daily-refreshed water matter.

• House Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red maple for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for Alabama, these 6 provide food or cover house sparrows use:

An introduced species that evicts bluebirds and kills nestlings; use 1 1/2 in bluebird holes, monitor boxes, and avoid millet if it's a problem.

• Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
• In Alabama's winter: Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north.

Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows