House Sparrows in Missouri

House Sparrows live in Missouri all year. Cold winters with variable snow; ice storms can shut down natural food for days. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid continental, from the Ozark Plateau in the south to prairie and river floodplains in the north.

Across Missouri, 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, humid summers.

• 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 Missouri, 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 Missouri's winter: Cold winters with variable snow; ice storms can shut down natural food for days.

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