By Sally Siko
Behold the humble House Sparrow.
Bane of some but awfully cute when viewed up close.
I spotted this pair while birding in Wrightsville Beach NC.
I’d been tracking a nearby Coopers Hawk and found these two huddled in a shrub behind the dunes.
Realizing I’d never photographed this species before I quickly snapped off a couple pics as they huddled in the brush, little feet clutching tightly to the twigs against the wind blowing on the beach.
The House Sparrow was introduced from Europe into New York City around 1850.
From there they spread quickly across North American continent, from Canada and down into Latin America.
Here in North Carolina, they are indeed a common sight in suburban backyards, urban shopping center parking lots and of course in agricultural areas.
Heck, I think I counted my first House Sparrow of 2023 back in January inside of a Lowes lawn and garden center lol!
Sufficient to say that these guys epitomize the term “common” when it comes to birds species.
But why are these European floofs so abundantly found in the U.S.?
When it comes down to it, people are the reason. House sparrows thrive on the food and shelter we provide. They prefer to live anywhere there are people. Like other common urban wild neighbors, we create perfect habitat for house sparrows.
In addition to eating wild sources of grains and seeds, our discarded food, and insects, they’re also happy to eat many commercial birdseed mixtures offered at our backyard feeders.
As their aptly named moniker suggests, House Sparrows will often literally make themselves at home in our own homes lol!
Dryer and other vents, attic vent louvers, behind wall mounted signs, and crevices, such as around window-mounted air-conditioners, are favorite nesting and roosting locations.
House Sparrows call North Carolina home throughout the year so if for some reason you haven’t listed this bird yet, keep an eye out for these little brown feathered gems today while you’re out shopping for Black Friday lol!
Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5