House Sparrows in Pennsylvania

House Sparrows live in Pennsylvania all year. Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.

Across Pennsylvania, 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.

Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.

• 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.

Of the regional native plants we track for Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania's winter: Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state.

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