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

New Chief Executive For BPCA
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) this week welcomed its new chief executive, Simon Forrester. For the last five years Simon has been chief executive at the Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) based in Solihull. With 480 contractor a... [more]

Eco-Friendly Pest Control
Summer is typically the height of pesky insect season, but if the thought of using pesticides is "bugging" you, you'll be happy to know more pest control companies are adopting the environmentally friendly approach. If you do find you have pests the... [more]

7 Tips For Chemical-Free Pest Control
The weather's heating up, and that means all sorts of creepy crawlies are about in force. Conventional pesticides are full of nasty chemicals linked to health concerns from ADHD in children to Parkinson's Disease in adults. Why spray harmful toxins w... [more]

Good News On Welsh General Licences
In good news for thousands of shooters and conservationists in Wales, the law on trapping and shooting pest birds will remain unchanged for the remainder of the year following discussions between the UK's largest shooting organisation, the British As... [more]

5 Ways To Reduce Children's Exposure
There's no question many children are routinely exposed to trace amounts of pesticides. Typical exposures aren't enough to cause known problems such as poisoning or cancer, but a new-found link between pesticide exposure and ADHD does raise the troub... [more]

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House Sparrow Pest Control Companies