House Sparrows in Colorado

House Sparrows live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.

Across Colorado, house sparrows typically nest from April–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.

Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.

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

Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 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 Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.

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