House Sparrows

Latin Name: Passer domesticus

Months of Activity: January - December

Probably the most often seen of British birds, house sparrows live in close proximity to man and build their nests not only in holes, in thatch and in hedges, but also in sheds, warehouses and in fact anywhere with an easy food source.

House sparrows are extremely versatile and will feed on grain, seeds, flowers and fruit. Because of this feeding practice, the birds can cause damage to allotments, farms and market gardens. They are also considered a serious pest in cereal growing areas.

Appearance

The cock house sparrow has a rusty back, black bib and grey crown and cheek patches.
The hen bird is more of a dull brown all over, smaller than the male , and is very similar to the juvenile house sparrow.

Lifecycle

The house sparrow follows a very distinct breeding pattern, which starts in early April with the male building his nest out of twigs, moss and other garden materials. Once the nest is built, he can then go and find a breeding partner.

Four to six eggs are laid and will hatch after 11 to 14 days of incubation, which is taken on solely by the hen. The chicks will fledge after 15 days and will remain in their parents care for a further month or so. House sparrows will typically have 2 or 3 broods per year and can continue to breed as late as September.

Pest Control

The most effective method of control is to exclude sparrows from the area by using nets and making sure that there are no gaps or crevices for the birds to pass through. This method is most effective in large, enclosed spaces such as warehouses, but does require the skills and experience of your local pest control company.

For smaller problems, such as sparrows nesting within your roof, the problem must be tackled by scaring the birds out and then finding and blocking up any holes that could be deemed large enough for them to re-enter your loft space.

NOTE: The Dunnock, a close relative of the house sparrow and a protected species, is often mistaken as the common sparrow, so it is important to source expert advice if you think that you have a house sparrow pest problem.

House Sparrow Pest Control News

Ground Nesting Birds
The national press had a field day about the launch of Ken Livingstone's scheme to use Birds of Prey to disperse the pigeons from Trafalgar Square last year. The papers were full of stories about the Harris hawks but failed to mention why and how thi...

Celebrating 15 Years
We all want to get paid for doing something we absolutely love, and some of us are lucky enough to do just that. Managing Director of NBC John Dickson from Stowmarket has been a falconer since 13, and in 1993 he noticed a demand in bird control servi...

The Bird-Borne Bugs Of Summer
The return of songbirds and robins on the lawn - for many, these sights signal the arrival of the many joys of summer. The truth is, however, that the birds of summer really bug a lot of people - literally. Summer is also the season of Lyme Disease a...

Fine For Pesticide Misuse
At Sheffield Magistrates Court on 12th March 2008 Mr John Allison pleaded guilty to four offences of not taking all reasonable precautions in using an insecticide containing bendiocarb. He was fined £200 for each offence and a further £20...

Are Pests Bugging You?
They are as big as a man; they're invisible. Some have fur, others feathers, maybe armoured scales. They creep, crawl, hop, jump, scamper, slither, fly - you name it. And they're generally things you don't want around. That's why they're called pests...

2006 – 2007 – 2008

House Sparrow Pest Control Companies

See Your Company Here?
Contact Us