Vermont · Year-round resident

House Sparrows in Vermont

When house sparrows are present in Vermont, when they nest, which native Vermont plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.

Old World sparrows (Passeridae)House SparrowPasser domesticus

Status in Vermont: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–August
Broods: 2–4 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–5b

When to expect house sparrows in Vermont

House Sparrows live in Vermont all year. Long, 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, with the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.

Nesting in Vermont

Across Vermont, 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, mild summers.

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 Vermont plants that attract house sparrows

Of the regional native plants we track for Vermont, these 8 provide food or cover house sparrows use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

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

Feeding house sparrows through the Vermont 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 Vermont's winter: Long, snowy winters.

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

Frequently asked

Are house sparrows in Vermont year-round?

Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in Vermont.

When do house sparrows nest in Vermont?

Nesting in Vermont 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 Vermont?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple are native plants in Vermont that provide food or cover for house sparrows.

Sources

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.