House Sparrows in Kansas

House Sparrows live in Kansas all year. Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Continental — humid tallgrass Flint Hills in the east to semi-arid shortgrass prairie in the west.

Across Kansas, 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.

Hot summers above 95°F; western Kansas is dry, so water draws birds from far away.

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

Of the regional native plants we track for Kansas, 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 Kansas's winter: Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover.

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