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Click the image for a larger picture	Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Passeridae

History and Biology:

The English Sparrow or House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is not native to the Americas. Originally a Eurasian species, British royalty and aristocrats took the sparrow from Africa to England. Eventually, for biological pest control of the elm spanworm caterpillar and as a nostalgic reminder of the Old World, the British introduced it into Colonial America in the 1850s, consequently the common name English Sparrow. The aggressive and prolific English Sparrow quickly adapted to a commensal life in North America, living in close proximity to humans, feeding on the seed waste around farms and towns, and nesting in cavities on buildings. Thriving on its commensal relationship with humans, the English Sparrow has become the most ubiquitous avian species on earth.

The English Sparrow is actually a Eurasian weaver finch, from Africa. It is called a weaver finch because of its social habit of weaving elaborate nests out of grasses in close proximity to each other and inundating or weaving a tree with hundreds of nests from prolific nest building and breeding. Presently, in the New World habitat of today, nests are made of twigs, grass, paper, string, and any kind of available trash. They are built in gutters, rafters, ledges, and any type of structural cavity.

Sparrows are reproductively prolific and can raise two to five broods per year of three to eight eggs (average 5) per clutch. Sparrows have a relatively long lifespan; the oldest sparrow on record is 13 years 4 months. However, annual survival rate is 45% to 65%.

They generally feed in small flocks on seed spillage, flower buds, weed seeds, and human fast food wastage. When available, adults feed insects to nestlings. Adults capture these insects during the day and at night under lights or pick them from the grills and bumpers of parked automobiles.

State or federal laws do not protect English Sparrows.

Public Health Damage:

English Sparrows and their droppings may be a reservoir for the transmission of over 25 diseases to humans (zoonotic diseases) such as psittacosis, salmonellosis, and several forms of encephalitis. Sparrows are also a concern to farmers because they may carry and transmit many diseases for domestic farm animals. In additional to the numerous infectious zoonotic diseases of sparrows, they also harbor and transmit a number of ectoparasites are associated with the bird and its nests such as lice, mites, fleas, ticks, and bugs.

Structural Damage:

House Sparrows deface structures with excretory droppings and messy nest building. They also cause structural damage to Styrofoam, fiberglass, mineral, and other soft insulation of warehouse buildings and agricultural barns. Nest building in electrical panels, junction boxes, and warehouse lights cause short circuits and fires.

Agricultural Damage:

English Sparrows threaten the health of livestock in United States agriculture because they are the reservoir for the potential transmission of many livestock diseases, especially around concentrated poultry and swine production facilities. They also do damage through the consumption and contamination of agricultural seed and grain products in the field, storage facilities, and wholesale and retail outlets.

Environmental Damage:

English Sparrows are more aggressive and bullish in behavior than the native North American songbird species. Consequently, their prolific adaptation to North America has had a negative impact on the mildly mannered native species such as blue birds and purple martins. The bullish sparrow will eat the eggs and chicks, kill the adults, and steal the nests of the more fragile blue bird, purple martin, and other native songbird species.

Economic Damage:

Economic damage from the English Sparrow is difficult to assess when you consider the intangible costs of the impact of zoonotic diseases on the public health of humans, livestock, and wildlife. Additionally, it is also difficult to determine the real cost of architectural and structural damages from defacement, insulation loss and fire caused by the prolific nesting and feeding activities on and in anthropogenic structures. Also there is a significant cost to American consumers and business from the consumption and contamination of seed and grain damaged by English Sparrows. Finally it is impossible to estimate the damage already inflicted and the future impact on the evolution of the mild mannered native North American songbird species by the bullish and aggressive English Sparrow.

References:

Coded Federal Registry, 50CFR17.Subpart D, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants

Coded Federal Registry, 50CFR 20.43, Wildlife and Fisheries, Hunting and Migratory Bird Regulations

Coded Federal Registry, 50 CFR 21.43 Subpart D, Control of Depredating Birds

Fergus, C., 2000, Wildlife of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Mallis, A. 1997. Handbook of Pest Control: The behavior, Life History, and Control of Household Pests, Eighth Edition. Mallis Handbook and Technical Training Company.

Perrins, C. and Harrison, C.J.O. 1979. Birds: Their life, Their Ways, Their World. Reader's Digest Edition, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, N.Y.

Sibley, D.A., 2001, The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, National Audubon Society, Alfred A Knopf, N.Y.

Wernert, S. J., 1982. North American Wildlife, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, N.Y.