Sparrows are common visitors to backyard feeders, and understanding their diet is the first step toward attracting and supporting them. While the non-native House Sparrow is the most familiar, North America hosts many native species, such as the Song Sparrow or White-throated Sparrow, whose feeding preferences are generally similar. Offering the right combination of seeds and supplemental foods provides the specific nutrition these adaptable birds need throughout the year.
Essential Seeds for Sparrow Diets
Sparrows are primarily granivores, meaning their diet centers on seeds and grains. The size and composition of the seed significantly influence their choice, favoring those that offer a high caloric return. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) are a favorite due to their high fat, protein, and fiber content, providing substantial energy, especially in cold weather. BOSS shells are also relatively thin, making them easier for sparrows to access compared to striped sunflower seeds.
White Millet is highly preferred, particularly by species that forage on the ground, such as the Dark-eyed Junco and native sparrows. This small seed is rich in protein and B vitamins, offering quick energy. Cracked Corn, which is corn kernels broken into smaller pieces, appeals to sparrows due to its manageable size and high carbohydrate content, though it offers less comprehensive nutrition than millet or sunflower seeds.
Safflower seeds are readily eaten by several sparrow species and have the added benefit of deterring squirrels and many blackbirds. Sparrows generally ignore Nyjer seed (often mistakenly called thistle seed) because their larger beaks are not suited for extracting the tiny seeds from specialized feeders.
Supplemental Grains and Non-Seed Offerings
Sparrows benefit from supplemental foods that provide concentrated sources of fat and protein, especially during periods of high energy demand like nesting or winter. Suet, which is rendered animal fat often mixed with seeds, is an excellent source of concentrated energy. Use commercially formulated suet cakes, as raw kitchen fats can melt and potentially coat a bird’s feathers, hindering its ability to insulate itself.
Protein is vital for nesting sparrows and their young. Dried or live mealworms are an exceptional source, mimicking the insects sparrows naturally consume during the breeding season. Nestlings require a soft, protein-rich diet for proper growth, making mealworms highly beneficial during spring and summer months. Grains like oat groats (hulled oats) also provide digestible carbohydrates and fiber.
Kitchen scraps should be approached with caution, as many human foods offer little nutritional value or can be harmful. Sparrows may opportunistically eat small pieces of plain, stale bread or unsalted cooked rice, but these should be offered only in moderation. Foods high in salt, sugar, or fat, such as salted nuts, processed foods, or chocolate, are toxic or unhealthy for birds and should never be offered.
Safe Feeding Practices and Feeder Placement
The method and location of feeding are important for maintaining a healthy sparrow population. Because many sparrows are ground-feeding birds, platform feeders (open trays) are highly effective as they mimic natural foraging behavior. Hopper and tube feeders can also be used, but placing the feed on a tray or near the ground accommodates their preference for feeding at lower levels.
Sanitation is a necessary part of safe feeding, as soiled feeders quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria and disease. Feeders should be cleaned every two weeks with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) and allowed to dry completely before refilling. Regularly raking the area beneath the feeder removes discarded seed hulls and droppings, preventing the buildup of mold and pathogens, which is important for ground-feeding species.
Feeder placement requires balancing accessibility with safety from predators and hazards. Feeders should be situated near natural cover, such as dense shrubs or evergreen trees, so sparrows have a quick escape route from flying predators like hawks. To prevent ambush from ground predators like domestic cats, the feeder should be positioned about ten feet away from any dense cover.
Placing feeders either within three feet of a window or more than 30 feet away helps reduce the risk of fatal window collisions. Birds flying from a close feeder will not build up enough speed to cause serious injury.