The most common pest sparrow is the house sparrow, they were first introduced to the United States from England in 1850. They have spread throughout the entire U.S. including all of Missouri. House sparrows prefer to live in areas that are closer to people and therefore are most commonly found in urban areas and farmlands.
Recognition
The house sparrow can grow to be about 6 ΒΌ inches in length from the tip of its bill to the top of its tail and they weigh about 1 ounce.
Male sparrows – The topside of males are chestnut brown in color, their underside a lighter grayish tan. Their throat is black, along with their upper breast. Their head is gray in color with whitish cheeks, and they have a single white wing bar.
Female sparrow – The topside of the female house sparrow is tan in color and they have dark reddish-brown wings. Their bill is yellowish in color and they have pale eyebrows. The underside of their body is a lighter tan in color.
| Pest Identification | |
|---|---|
| Biology | House sparrows are loosely monogamous, the male will select a nesting area and control the territory that is found around it. Breeding commonly occurs between March and August, the female will lay between 3-7 eggs. Both sexes will care for the eggs but the female does do most of the brooding. The eggs will incubate for 10-14 days, after hatching the young will remain in the nest for 15 days. After leaving the nest they are still fed by adults for the next 2 weeks before going off on their own. |
| Habits | House sparrows do not migrate; they are both social and aggressive allowing them to compete very successfully against other native bird species. House sparrows are not found living in dense forest areas, instead prefer to live around people feeding on seed at bird feeders, grains, fruits, and garbage. House sparrows are both nuisance and dangerous pests. They will build their bulky nests in gutters, downspouts, vents, soffits, and roof overhangs causing them not to work properly. Along with building nests in inappropriate areas they will leave droppings everywhere which can be unsightly, damage the surface of your home, lead to slips and falls, and spread serious diseases to you and your family. |
| Prevention | Preventing sparrows or any pest bird from choosing your property to nest on can be a difficult task. The best way to prevent problems with them is to stop them before they decided to roost on your home. This can be accomplished by eliminating their food sources. Get rid of bird feeders, clean up fruits and vegetables that have fall to the ground from gardens, and make sure that garbage cans have tight locking lids on them. It is also important to eliminate any water sources by making sure that gutters are working properly, that they are not collecting water, and that they are draining water away from your home. |
| Professional | The best way to prevent and control current problems with sparrows is to partner with a professional pest control company who has the experience and equipment to eliminate pest birds from your property. At Rottler we can offer you services to prevent and control sparrows through our bird control program. Our specially trained professionals will inspect your property and provide you with the best options available to remove pest sparrows from it. For more information about how Rottler Pest and Lawn Solutions can quickly eliminate sparrows from your home contact us today. |
