House Sparrows in New Jersey

House Sparrows live in New Jersey all year. Moderate winters; Cape May and the shore hold many half-hardy birds. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid continental to subtropical, from the Highlands in the north to the Pine Barrens and Cape May.

Across New Jersey, 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; Cape May is a world-class migration funnel.

• 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.

Of the regional native plants we track for New Jersey, 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 New Jersey's winter: Moderate winters; Cape May and the shore hold many half-hardy birds.

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