House Sparrows in Maine
When house sparrows are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2–4 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect house sparrows in Maine
House Sparrows live in Maine all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, house sparrows typically nest from May–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.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- House Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, sugar maple, red maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Maine plants that attract house sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover house sparrows use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
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.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Feeding house sparrows through the Maine year
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 Maine's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years.
Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows
Frequently asked
Are house sparrows in Maine year-round?
Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in Maine.
When do house sparrows nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs May–August, with 2–4 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 10–14 days.
What native plants attract house sparrows in Maine?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for house sparrows.
House Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
Sources
- House Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- House Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- House Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maine
- 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.