House Sparrows in Quebec
When house sparrows are present in Quebec, when they nest, which native Quebec plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–5b yard.
- Status in Quebec
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2–4 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–5b
When to expect house sparrows in Quebec
House Sparrows live in Quebec all year. Long, cold, snowy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.
Nesting in Quebec
Across Quebec, 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.
Warm, humid summers in the south.
- 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.
Native Quebec plants that attract house sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Quebec, 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.
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.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Feeding house sparrows through the Quebec 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 Quebec's winter: Long, cold, snowy winters.
Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows
Frequently asked
Are house sparrows in Quebec year-round?
Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in Quebec.
When do house sparrows nest in Quebec?
Nesting in Quebec 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 Quebec?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple are native plants in Quebec that provide food or cover for house sparrows.
House Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Quebec
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 — Quebec
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.