House Sparrows in Virginia

House Sparrows live in Virginia all year. Moderate winters with periodic snow; purple finches and occasional northern finches visit feeders. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid subtropical in the east, cooler and snowier in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny highlands.

Across Virginia, 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, humid summers; House Wrens and hummingbirds breed statewide.

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

Of the regional native plants we track for Virginia, 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 Virginia's winter: Moderate winters with periodic snow; purple finches and occasional northern finches visit feeders.

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