Sparrows are small songbirds that are found all over the world. There are over 140 species of sparrows that inhabit a variety of habitats from deserts to forests to urban areas. Sparrows are omnivorous birds that eat a wide variety of foods including seeds, grains, fruits, insects, and even small vertebrates. The specific diet of a sparrow depends on the species, habitat, season, and availability of food.
Seeds and Grains
Seeds and grains make up a major part of the diet of most sparrow species. This includes the seeds of grasses, weeds, cereals, and agricultural grains. Sparrows will scavenge seeds from the ground or eat directly from seed producing plants. Common seeds eaten by sparrows include millet, sorghum, wheat, corn, oats, and rice. Sparrows have strong beaks that are adapted for cracking open seeds and grains to get to the nutritious interior. They can hull seeds extremely quickly using their beaks. Sparrows may also eat the green sprouts and shoots of grasses and cereals while seeds are germinating.
Fruits and Berries
When available, sparrows readily feed on fruits and berries. They like small, soft fruits and berries such as blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, mulberries, bananas, and raisins. Sparrows will flock to fruit trees, vines, and shrubs when fruits are ripe to take advantage of the bounty. Fruits provide sugars that give sparrows quick energy. Some species that migrate long distances build up fat reserves by eating large amounts of fruit before migration.
Insects and Other Invertebrates
Insects and other invertebrates are a key food source for sparrows, especially during breeding season when they need extra protein to produce eggs and feed their chicks. Adult sparrows will actively hunt insects like beetles, caterpillars, moths, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and worms. They use their beaks to probe into grass, leaves, bark, and other substrates to uncover hidden insects. Sparrow parents will gather insects and bring them back to feed their chicks in the nest. Insects provide protein essential for growth and development in chicks.
Greens and Sprouts
In addition to seeds, sparrows will eat the green leafy parts of plants including young shoots, sprouts, and leaves. This provides important vitamins and minerals to their diet. They may feed on the tender young shoots of grasses, cereal crops, vegetables, and agricultural plants as they emerge and grow. Leafy greens from plants like spinach, kale, lettuce, and cabbage may also be consumed. Eating greens provides nutrition and variety to the sparrow diet.
Nectar, Sap, and Pollen
Some species of sparrows have adapted to take advantage of sweet, sugary food sources like nectar, plant sap, and pollen. For example, the aptly named Nectarinia sparrows of Africa and Asia specialize in feeding on nectar from flowers using their thin, curved beaks. Their brush-tipped tongues allow them to lap up nectar. Other species will feed on the sap of certain trees by making small holes in the bark. Tree sap provides an abundant source of carbohydrates. Sparrows may also occasionally eat pollen granules stuck to their bodies as they hop between flowers and plants.
Small Vertebrates and Eggs
While most of their diet is plant or insect based, some larger sparrow species may opportunistically eat small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs, mice, and even other smaller birds. Parents may even feed their chicks small vertebrates to provide extra protein. Additionally, sparrows are known for raiding the nests of other birds and eating eggs or hatchlings. This includes the eggs of chickens, ducks, and songbirds. The eggs provide a compact package of nutrients to sparrows.
Bird Feeders
Many species of sparrows have adapted well to urban and suburban environments. This includes taking advantage of backyard bird feeders stocked by well-meaning humans. Sparrows will gorge on common bird seed mixes with millet, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and other grains. They also appreciate mixes containing nuts, fruit like raisins, suet cakes, and niger thistle seed. Sparrows are social and will vigorously defend feeders as their territory against other birds.
Scraps and Garbage
Sparrows are expert scavengers and opportunistic eaters. They will readily feed on any food scraps, garbage, or waste provided by humans, even if their natural diet might not include it. This includes things like bread crumbs, crackers, chips, french fries, donut crumbs, spilled popcorn, pizza crusts, burger buns, and any dropped human food. Sparrows frequent picnic areas, food courts, restaurants, farms, and anywhere else they can find scraps. Their adaptability allows them to thrive around humans.
Adaptations for Feeding
Sparrows have several key adaptations that allow them to feed on such a wide variety of foods:
- Strong, thick beaks – Allows them to crush and hull seeds and grains, break apart tough foods, and dig in the ground.
- Scratching feet – Rakes through ground debris to uncover insects and seeds.
- Excellent eyesight – Helps them spot fruits, seeds, and insects while foraging.
- Fast, continuous eating – Sparrows can eat very quickly to maximize food intake.
- Social flocks – By foraging in groups, sparrows can cover more ground to find patchy food.
- Nest raids – Some species will raid the nests of other birds for eggs and chicks.
- Opportunistic – Sparrows are generalized feeders not picky about food sources.
What Do Baby Sparrows Eat?
Baby sparrows rely completely on their parents to provide food in the nest. For the first few days after hatching, baby sparrows eat mostly insects and other invertebrates. The parents work diligently to gather insects like caterpillars, worms, spiders, beetles, and fly larvae and bring them back to the hungry chicks. Insects provide the protein needed for fast growth and development of chicks. As the chicks get older, parents start providing more seeds and fruits in addition to insects. By the time they are ready to leave the nest, baby sparrows can eat the same foods as adults.
Most Important Foods for Baby Sparrows
Here are some of the most important foods for parent sparrows to feed their chicks:
- Caterpillars – A convenient package of protein, fat, and moisture for chicks.
- Beetles – Plentiful and nutritious insect prey for sparrow parents to catch.
- Grasshoppers – Big and meaty for satisfying growing chicks.
- Worms – Soft, easy to eat protein source for young chicks.
- Aphids – Provides both the insects themselves plus the sticky sugary secretions.
- Mashed seeds – Parents soak and hull seeds before feeding to babies.
- Berries – Fruits are mashed and fed to chicks as they get older.
Amount of Food Consumed
The amount of food a sparrow needs to eat each day depends on factors like its size, age, whether its breeding, and temperature. In warmer weather, sparrows generally need to eat more food. During breeding season, parents ramp up their food intake to be able to produce eggs and feed their chicks. A typical amount of food eaten daily by an adult sparrow may include:
- 10-20 g of seeds
- 5-10 g of fruits/berries
- 5-10 g of insects and other invertebrates
- 2-5 g of greens, sprouts and shoots
To meet these needs, sparrows are constantly on the search for their next meal. They spend around 75% of their waking day actively foraging and feeding. Their high metabolism requires them to eat frequently throughout the day to meet their energy needs.
Benefits of Main Foods
The different major foods sparrows eat all provide important benefits and nutrients:
| Food Type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Seeds and grains | High in carbohydrates for energy and calories. Also provides protein, fiber, and fat. |
| Fruits | High in natural sugars for quick energy. Also provides vitamins and minerals. |
| Insects | Excellent source of protein needed for growth and reproduction. Also provides fat. |
| Greens | Provides vitamins like A, K, folate, and minerals like calcium and potassium. |
Foraging Behaviors
Sparrows have developed several effective foraging strategies and behaviors to help them find the most plentiful and nutritious foods:
- Flocking – By foraging in large social flocks, sparrows can cover more territory and find unpredictable food sources faster through information sharing.
- Frequent hopping – Sparrows hop frequently as they walk, letting them scan and pick up food from the ground quickly.
- Scratching – They use their feet to scratch up leaf litter and soil to uncover hidden seeds and insects.
- Branch gleaning – Sparrows pick insects and spiders directly from trees and shrubs while perched on branches.
- Flower probing – Some species probe flowers and brushy tips to extract nectar and pollen.
- Exploring – Curious and active nature allows sparrows to constantly explore new areas for potential food.
Adaptations for Digestion
Sparrows have several digestive adaptations to help them make the most of their food intake:
- Powerful gizzard – The muscular gizzard grinds up and pulverizes seeds and grains aiding digestion.
- Short intestines – Food passes quickly through short digestive tract, allowing rapid eating.
- Food storage – Some seeds and grains are stored in crop for later digestion.
- Water absorption – The intestines rapidly absorb water from droppings to stay hydrated.
- Excellent kidney function – Filters waste while reabsorbing useful nutrients.
Diseases from Contaminated Foods
While they have adaptive immune systems, eating contaminated foods can sometimes make sparrows sick. Some diseases sparrows can contract from spoiled foods include:
- Salmonella – Common bacteria that can cause intestinal illness.
- Trichomoniasis – Parasitic disease that affects the throat and digestion.
- Aspergillosis – Fungal infection often caused by moldy seeds.
- Avian pox – Viral infection causing wart-like lesions on skin and mouth.
- Mycoplasmosis – Bacterial disease that impacts the respiratory tract.
Eating at bird feeders with stale, moldy seed increases risk of disease transmission between birds. Sparrows avoid sickness by preferentially choosing fresh, high quality foods free of contamination.
Habitats and Range
Sparrows are found on every continent except Antarctica and inhabit a wide range of habitats. Some species have huge natural ranges spanning entire continents. Habitats occupied by various sparrow species include:
- Forests – Both coniferous and deciduous forests.
- Shrublands – Brushy areas with shrubs and thickets.
- Grasslands – Prairies, fields, pastures, and steppes.
- Wetlands – Marshes, swamps, and floodplains.
- Deserts – Able to persist in dry, arid deserts.
- Tundra – Hardy species inhabit Antarctica and Arctic tundra.
- Urban areas – Readily adapt to living in cities and suburbs.
- Farmland – Often populate agricultural areas to forage.
This great habitat diversity allows different sparrow species to take advantage of many food sources across regions.
Migration
Many sparrow species migrate long distances to take advantage of seasonal food availability. Breeding occurs in more northern regions during summer when abundant insects are available to feed their young. They then migrate south in winter when food becomes scarce to areas with more abundant seeds and fruits. Some species also move between elevations, breeding at higher altitudes and moving downslope for winter. Migratory sparrows have adapted to build up fat reserves by voraciously eating foods like fruits and grains before their long journeys.
Examples of Migratory Sparrow Species
- White-crowned sparrow – Breeds in Alaska and Canada, winters in southern U.S. and Mexico.
- Chipping sparrow – Summers throughout Canada and the U.S., winters in southern states and Mexico.
- Savannah sparrow – Nest in Alaska and Canada, winter from southern U.S. to Central America.
- Vesper sparrow – Breeds throughout western Canada and U.S., winters in southwest and Mexico.
Backyard Feeders
Providing food at backyard bird feeders is a great way to help supplement wild sparrow diets. They will readily visit platform feeders, hopper feeders, and tube feeders. Some of the best seeds and foods to provide include:
- Millet – Small round white seeds, a sparrow favorite.
- Sunflower seeds – High in fat and protein.
- Cracked corn – Larger pieces that sparrows can handle.
- Nyjer thistle – Small, oil-rich black seeds loved by finches.
- Peanut pieces – Sparrows will gobble up shelled peanut fragments.
- Suet cakes – High energy fat and protein cakes.
- Fruit like raisins – Provides natural sugars for energy.
Feeders should be kept clean and food replenished to prevent buildup of contaminants. Position feeders in sheltered spots so sparrows can forage even in bad weather. Providing water also helps visiting sparrows stay hydrated.
Species Preferences
While most sparrow species are opportunistic generalists, some have more specialized food preferences:
| Species | Food Preferences |
|---|---|
| Chipping sparrow | Prefers small seeds like millet. Also eats fruits, insects. |
| Fox sparrow | Scratches leaf litter for insects. Favorite fruits include blueberries, blackberries. |
| Grasshopper sparrow | Eats grasshoppers, other large insects. Also seeds from grasses and cereals. |
| Harris’s sparrow | Migrates huge distances relying on tree sap for energy. Also fruits and insects. |
| Rufous-collared sparrow | Adapted to very dry habitats. Eats small grass and weed seeds. |
Breeding and Egg Production
Sparrows build nests in trees, shrubs, and on man-made structures. Clutch size ranges from 2-6 eggs depending on species. Parents work intensely to gather enough food to produce eggs and feed hatchlings. Sparrows favor foods high in protein prior to breeding season to aid egg production. Some key foods for breeding include:
- Caterpillars – High in protein and readily fed to chicks.
- Grasshoppers – Large and meaty to fuel chick growth.
- Seeds – Carbohydrate rich to provide breeding adult energy.
- Grains – Also high in carbs and easily accessible food.
- Mealworms – Captive bred insects sold at pet stores for food.
During peak feeding of fast growing chicks, parents may bring back hundreds of insects per day. They work from dawn to dusk to find enough food to sustain their chicks.
Care of Injured and Orphaned Sparrows
Sometimes baby sparrows fall from nests before they can fly or get separated from parents. These orphaned chicks require specialized care including hand feeding. Appropriate foods include:
- Puppy or dog kibble – Crumbled into small pieces provides carbohydrates.
- Hard boiled eggs – Cooked egg yolk and white provides protein.
- Mealworms – Can be purchased live, dried, or canned.
- Baby bird formula – Specifically designed nutritional powder mixes.
- Berries – Bananas, strawberries, blueberries mashed up.
Feed orphaned chicks every 15-20 minutes from dawn to dusk. Carefully open mouth and gently place food towards back of throat. Contact wildlife rehabilitators for additional help. Injured adults can also be supported until recovery with similar food offerings.
Lifespan and Causes of Death
The typical lifespan of sparrows ranges between 2-4 years but they can live longer. The record for oldest documented House Sparrow is nearly 15 years. Some common causes of premature death for sparrows include:
- Predators – Sparrowhawks, cats, snakes, raccoons.
- Vehicles – Getting struck by cars when feeding on roads.
- Disease – Salmonellosis, avian malaria, poxvirus.
- Parasites – Especially affects nestlings.
- Weather – Freezing temperatures, storms.
- Starvation – Especially in winter when food is scarce.
Providing food, nest boxes, and protecting habitat helps sparrows survive threats and reach full lifespan potential.
Sparrow Recipes
While it is not recommended, some cultures do eat sparrows as food. Here are a few historical recipes for cooking and preparing sparrows:
Sparrow Pie
Ingredients: Sparrows, butter, flour, carrots, onion, celery, chicken stock, pie crust
Instructions: Skin, gut, and clean sparrows. Sauté vegetables in butter. Add flour to make roux then whisk in stock. Simmer. Add sparrows and cook until tender. Fill pie crust and top with second crust. Bake at 400F until golden brown.
Sparrow Pot Pie
Ingredients: Sparrows, potatoes, peas, carrots, onion, puff pastry
Instructions: Simmer cleaned sparrows and vegetables in stock until cooked. Make sauce with butter, flour, and cream. Place sparrows and vegetables in baking dish, cover with sauce. Top with puff pastry and bake until golden.
Southern Fried Sparrows
Ingredients: Sparrows, buttermilk, flour, salt, pepper, lard or oil for frying
Instructions: Soak cleaned sparrows in buttermilk. Mix flour with seasoning. Dredge sparrows in flour mix, then fry in hot oil until crispy browned. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
Conclusion
Sparrows are resourceful birds that have adapted to eat a wide range of foods in many habitats around the world. Seeds, grains, fruits, insects, greens, and even small vertebrates may all be part of the sparrow diet depending on species and availability. Their ability to thrive on many different food sources helps explain why sparrows are one of the most successful bird families. Providing food, nesting spots, and reducing pesticide use can help support sparrow populations. Their constant foraging and scavenging provides free pest control while their cheerful songs brighten urban spaces.
