House Sparrows in New Mexico

House Sparrows live in New Mexico all year. Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.

Across New Mexico, 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, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.

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

Of the regional native plants we track for New Mexico, 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 Mexico's winter: Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.

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