House Sparrows in North Dakota
When house sparrows are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2–4 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
When to expect house sparrows in North Dakota
House Sparrows live in North Dakota all year. Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Nesting in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, 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.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
- House Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, sugar maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native North Dakota plants that attract house sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover house sparrows use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
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.
Feeding house sparrows through the North Dakota 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 North Dakota's winter: Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.
Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows
Frequently asked
Are house sparrows in North Dakota year-round?
Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in North Dakota.
When do house sparrows nest in North Dakota?
Nesting in North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for house sparrows.
House Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Dakota
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 — North Dakota
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.