House Sparrows in Austria
When the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is present in Austria, when it nests, and which native Austria plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Austria
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–August
- Size
- 14 cm, 30 g
- Nest box
- 32 mm hole; multi-chamber 'terrace' boxes suit colonies
When to expect house sparrows in Austria
The House Sparrow lives in Austria all year round. Cold, snowy winters, especially at altitude.
Continental and Alpine; most of the country is mountainous.
Nesting in Austria
In Austria the House Sparrow usually nests April–August. Nest site: untidy nest under eaves, in ivy or a colony box. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days; chicks fledge after 14–16 days, and pairs raise 2–4 per year.
- Nest box: 32 mm hole; multi-chamber 'terrace' boxes suit colonies. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Austria plants for house sparrows
Of the native plants we track for Austria, these 8 provide food the House Sparrow uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Feeding in the garden
Seeds and scraps; insects for chicks.
- Best foods: Seed mix, Sunflower hearts, Suet.
- Feeders: Seed feeder, Open table.
- UK numbers fell by over 60% since the 1970s — a sparrow terrace box under the eaves helps colonies.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are house sparrows in Austria all year?
Yes — the House Sparrow is resident in Austria all year.
When do house sparrows nest in Austria?
Typically April–August. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days, with 2–4 per year.
Which native plants help house sparrows in Austria?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Bramble, Teasel, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Austria and provide food or cover the House Sparrow uses.
What nest box does the House Sparrow use?
32 mm hole; multi-chamber 'terrace' boxes suit colonies.
House Sparrows in other countries
Other garden birds in Austria
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.