House Sparrows in West Virginia
When house sparrows are present in West Virginia, when they nest, which native West Virginia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in West Virginia
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–August
- Broods
- 2–4 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
When to expect house sparrows in West Virginia
House Sparrows live in West Virginia all year. Snowy winters at elevation; valleys milder. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Humid continental Appalachian state with high ridges and deep river valleys.
Nesting in West Virginia
Across West 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; high ridges host northern breeders.
- 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.
Native West Virginia plants that attract house sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for West Virginia, these 8 provide food or cover house sparrows use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.
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.
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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia's winter: Snowy winters at elevation; valleys milder.
Full diet breakdown for house sparrows · Best feeder for house sparrows
Frequently asked
Are house sparrows in West Virginia year-round?
Yes. House Sparrows are year-round residents in West Virginia.
When do house sparrows nest in West Virginia?
Nesting in West Virginia typically runs April–August, with 2–4 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 10–14 days.
What native plants attract house sparrows in West Virginia?
Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Red maple are native plants in West Virginia that provide food or cover for house sparrows.
House Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in West Virginia
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 — West Virginia
- 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.