House Sparrows in Norway
When the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is present in Norway, when it nests, and which native Norway plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Norway
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–August
- Size
- 14 cm, 30 g
- Nest box
- 32 mm hole; multi-chamber 'terrace' boxes suit colonies
When to expect house sparrows in Norway
The House Sparrow lives in Norway all year round. Coastal winters are milder than latitude suggests; inland winters are severe.
Mild maritime on the Gulf Stream coast, cold continental inland and Arctic in the north.
Nesting in Norway
In Norway the House Sparrow usually nests May–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 Norway plants for house sparrows
Of the native plants we track for Norway, 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.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
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 Norway all year?
Yes — the House Sparrow is resident in Norway all year.
When do house sparrows nest in Norway?
Typically May–August. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days, with 2–4 per year.
Which native plants help house sparrows in Norway?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Norway 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 Norway
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.