Diet

What do Harris's sparrows eat?

Seeds and insects taken on the ground.

New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querula

Spring and summer diet

  • Beetles, ants and crowberry fruit

Fall and winter diet

  • Ragweed and grass seeds

Best feeder foods

  • Millet
  • Black-oil sunflower
  • Cracked corn

Canada's only endemic breeding songbird. Winters almost entirely in the southern Great Plains, where it is a feeder regular.

Which feeder works best for Harris's sparrows →

Where Harris's sparrows need winter food

Regions where Harris's sparrows are present in the cold months:

Frequently asked

What do Harris's sparrows eat?

Seeds and insects taken on the ground.

What is the best food to feed Harris's sparrows?

Millet, Black-oil sunflower, Cracked corn.

What do Harris's sparrows eat in winter?

Ragweed and grass seeds.

Sources

  1. Harris's Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Harris's Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Harris's Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

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.