Yes, they were brought to the Brooklyn, New York, USA, in 1851. They are native to Europe and Asia.
They write of pest species birds, but I find the House Sparrows are precious little critters. They are absent from heavily wooded areas, grasslands, and deserts, preferring to live in the vicinity of humans, most often I see them when we eat outside in city restaurants. They are ubiquitous in our local municipal parks. For an excellent
information piece by uCornell, click here.
They compete with house finches, and there are many 'pest' species that compete at feeders: grackles, starlings, pigeons, as well as the house sparrow. The more aggressive birds take it out on the less aggressive. I have noticed the chickadees being harassed by the blue jays, for example.
The crows are getting more aggressive at our feeder, as well.
Eating out is a whole new challenge when patrons feed them. Giving bread to birds is like giving them sugar.
Sparrow species:
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| chipping sparrow |
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| redpoll |
They are English SPARROWS (not related to North American sparrows but rather to African weavers) and were introduced 1850-52 from Europe to Brooklyn, NY, to control INSECT PESTS.
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| This little one was looking for food, too! |
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| crow |
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| grackle |
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| seagull |
10 comments:
Wonderful collection of birds, my favorite is the Redpoll!
They may be trouble makers, but you got some beautiful photos of them!
I think they are wonderful and you took some great shots of them.
i like sparrows, too.
What a great series of shots. I didn't know that sparrows could be aggressive.
Wow....I really like these images you've shared today.
If you wish, stop by and add the link to this blog post on the Bird D'Pot weekend birding meme and share this with the rest of the the world.
I know that the sparrows have overtaken our bluebird houses for several seasons now. Still, I enjoy watching them--all the birds, really--at our feeders.
Okay, I hate to rain on your party. The house sparrow is actually a finch and no relation the our native sparrows. An further I hate the little suckers because they are so mean to many of our native species.
House sparrows were a real problem in Illinois. Over here in Hawaii our problem birds, aside from pigeons, mynahs and doves are the tiny and pretty Java finches. They create incredible nesting garbage between the ceiling and roof.
Wow, such amazing photos of birds.. I have not seen anything like those here in Thailand!
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