When I photographed this male House Sparrow in Arkansas, I wasn’t thinking about how people love to hate this species. I was simply taking photos of a bird.
Male House Sparrow on a driftwood perch – Canon R7, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 1250, -0.7 EV, Canon RF 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light
However, there are people in North America who do hate House Sparrows. They are nonnative and cause problems, leading to the deaths of native birds. Additionally, they can crowd out native birds at feeders, nests, and birdbaths.
But these birds didn’t ask to be here in North America, they just adapted to this continent well, extremely well in fact.
Hate them if you must.
I can’t hate House Sparrows. I can’t hate any birds.
We know well that House Sparrows have had a negative impact on our native birds but they are beneficial in at least two ways:
- Insect Control: House sparrows are opportunistic feeders and consume a wide variety of insects, including harmful pests such as caterpillars, aphids, and beetles. By preying on these insects, they help control pest populations, which can be beneficial to agricultural and garden settings.
- Seed Dispersal: House sparrows consume various seeds, and as they travel and forage, they inadvertently help disperse seeds from different plants. This seed dispersal can aid in the reforestation of degraded areas or contribute to the overall biodiversity of natural habitats.
In their native range, these sparrows are experiencing steep declines due to various reasons, including the lack of insects and habitat destruction. According to Cornell University, House Sparrows are also declining here in North America at a rate of about 3% per year, resulting in a cumulative decline of nearly 80% between 1966 and 2019.
If these highly adaptable birds are in trouble here in North America then so are other native birds. That also means that we humans are in trouble too. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my House Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
You make a good point about how House Sparrows may serve as an “indicator species.” They were one of the first birds to which I paid attention as a child. My Grandmother called them “chippies” and fed them stale bread. I learned that their proper name was English Sparrow and my little Reed field guide certainly castigated them as pests or vermin who displaced native species such as bluebirds. In those days wild creatures were usually classified as “good” or “bad.”
I cannot hate birds. Or indeed any creature (though I struggle on the leeches front).
Sadly our sparrows are in serious decline too (and yes they are also an import).
We love house sparrows at our house. Ours in our yard have declined drastically from 20 years ago, despite us releasing the ones from rehab in our yard. I blame it on the high use of pesticides all my neighbors use so their little piece of acre looks like something in a garden magazine. I live in a highly manicured neighborhood. Two neighbors have natural habitat, buffalo grass and native bushes.They use little water and don’t have to mow! I would love to do more in my front yard but Jon likes grass. Our grass is more weeds now we water so little, so maybe by default I will get more native ones. Interestingly house sparrows are mostly found around human habitat and not in wilder/natural areas. They seem to need to coexist near us.
Well said, Mia. I go even further in defense of “invasive” species, rejecting all value judgements that are based on perceived benefits to human endeavours, especially agriculture. It is hubris to judge all species by how they affect our activities, especially those that are demonstrably causing immense harm to ecosystems everywhere.
What is the definition of “non-native?” I think people should have to define that term every time they use it. How long must a species reside somewhere before it is considered “native?” Every widely-distributed species was “invasive” at some point in its evolutionary history.
Including humans
Truly sad prognosis for all living creatures feathered, furred, or otherwise.