Wisconsin · Year-round resident

Song Sparrows in Wisconsin

When song sparrows are present in Wisconsin, when they nest, which native Wisconsin plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.

New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Song SparrowMelospiza melodia

Status in Wisconsin: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–August
Broods: 2–3 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–6a

When to expect song sparrows in Wisconsin

Song Sparrows live in Wisconsin all year. Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward weed and grass seeds.

Humid continental, with two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.

Nesting in Wisconsin

Across Wisconsin, song sparrows typically nest from May–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.

Warm, humid summers.

Song Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, white oak, bur oak for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Native Wisconsin plants that attract song sparrows

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

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.

Feeding song sparrows through the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's winter: Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north.

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

Frequently asked

Are song sparrows in Wisconsin year-round?

Yes. Song Sparrows are year-round residents in Wisconsin.

When do song sparrows nest in Wisconsin?

Nesting in Wisconsin typically runs May–August, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.

What native plants attract song sparrows in Wisconsin?

Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower are native plants in Wisconsin that provide food or cover for song sparrows.

Other backyard birds in Wisconsin

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Canada Jay Eurasian Collared-Dove

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.