Song Sparrows in Washington
When song sparrows are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Washington
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–August
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect song sparrows in Washington
Song Sparrows live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward weed and grass seeds.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.
Nesting in Washington
Across Washington, song sparrows typically nest from April–August. Nest site: grass cup on the ground or low in shrubs. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.
Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.
- Song Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Washington plants that attract song sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 8 provide food or cover song sparrows use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
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.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding song sparrows through the Washington year
Song Sparrows feed at the edge of shrubbery and are among the first birds singing in late winter.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower, Cracked corn.
- In Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.
Full diet breakdown for song sparrows · Best feeder for song sparrows
Frequently asked
Are song sparrows in Washington year-round?
Yes. Song Sparrows are year-round residents in Washington.
When do song sparrows nest in Washington?
Nesting in Washington typically runs April–August, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract song sparrows in Washington?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for song sparrows.
Song Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Washington
Sources
- Song Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Song Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Song Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Washington
- 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.