House Sparrows in New Brunswick
When house sparrows are present in New Brunswick, when they nest, which native New Brunswick plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 3a–5b yard.
- Status in New Brunswick
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2–4 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 3a–5b
When to expect house sparrows in New Brunswick
House Sparrows live in New Brunswick all year. Cold, snowy winters. 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 Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.
Nesting in New Brunswick
Across New Brunswick, 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.
Mild summers.
- 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 New Brunswick plants that attract house sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for New Brunswick, these 8 provide food or cover house sparrows use:
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.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding house sparrows through the New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick's winter: Cold, snowy winters.
Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows
Frequently asked
Are house sparrows in New Brunswick year-round?
Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in New Brunswick.
When do house sparrows nest in New Brunswick?
Nesting in New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick?
Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in New Brunswick that provide food or cover for house sparrows.
House Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Brunswick
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 — New Brunswick
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.