Newfoundland and Labrador · Year-round resident

House Sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador

When house sparrows are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.

Old World sparrows (Passeridae)House SparrowPasser domesticus
Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
Year-round resident
Nesting window
May–August
Broods
2–4 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–6b

When to expect house sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador

House Sparrows live in Newfoundland and Labrador all year. Long, snowy, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, 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 summers; nesting often starts in June.

  • House Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, red maple, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract house sparrows

Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 5 provide food or cover house sparrows use:

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Red maple
Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch
Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding house sparrows through the Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador's winter: Long, snowy, windy winters.

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

Frequently asked

Are house sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?

Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.

When do house sparrows nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador?

Paper birch, Red maple, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for house sparrows.

House Sparrows in other regions

Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador

Sources

  1. House Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. House Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. House Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.