How to attract birds: 7 easy ways to attract sparrows
A simple and straightforward guide to transforming your garden into a resting place for sparrows
Last spring, my neighbor asked me why my backyard was so noisy every morning, filled with birdsong, while hers was completely quiet. Same street, same weather, same trees, in short. What was the difference? I spent about two months experimenting with bird feeders, water bowls, and a few sparse shrubs that I hadn't bothered to trim. It turned out that was all it took to attract a flock of sparrows. Not complicated at all, just a few simple habits.
If you're new to birdwatching in general, there are plenty of other things worth checking out, such as this list of redbirds in Connecticut , or if you prefer ornamental birds, this list of cockatiel colors and mutations is also worth a look. But let's talk about finches now.
A brief overview of these youngsters
House sparrows weren't originally here. They were brought from Europe in the 1850s, apparently to help control pests in New York, and haven't left since. Now, they're one of the most common birds you'll find near people—in parking lots, on city sidewalks, on backyard fences, at gas stations, and more.
They are small, stocky, brown and gray, with males distinguished by a black patch under the chin and a gray cap. Females are simpler and more striped. Nothing remarkable, yet there's a certain charm to their boldness. They'll leap within a few meters of you with ease, especially once they realize your garden means food.
Some birdwatchers dislike sparrows because they may crowd out native birds that nest in cavities, such as blue tits. This is a legitimate concern if you're aiming for a garden with only native species. But if your goal is simply a vibrant backyard filled with songbirds, sparrows will achieve that faster than almost any other bird.
1. Choose the right feeder (or skip one altogether)
You don't need anything fancy. A simple feeder, such as a platform or container, will suffice, as birds like to sit in groups while eating—they're certainly not solitary eaters. Tube feeders are also suitable, although I've noticed my birds prefer to have a clear view of their surroundings while eating. This makes sense, as staying alert for cats and hawks is their primary function.
Honestly, feeding them on the ground might be the easiest option of all. Simply scatter some seeds on a patch of bare ground near a bush and walk away. This method is closest to what you would do when foraging in the wild.
What food attracts sparrows the most?
Millet, hands down. White millet in particular—I switched to it last year after getting frustrated with an untouched mix, and the difference was almost immediate. Crushed corn and oily black sunflower seeds work well too. Basic mixed birdseed does the trick when needed, although birds often pick up extra grains like sorghum and leave them scattered on the ground.
They will eat breadcrumbs if you offer them, of course, but I don't recommend making it a habit. It doesn't contain much nutrition. In winter, I add a little lard to the mixture because they burn calories quickly trying to stay warm.
2. Water is more important than people think.
Everyone focuses on the food and completely forgets about the water. This is a big mistake, frankly, because a bird bath can attract birds with just as much energy as feeders, and sometimes even more.
Do sparrows prefer bird feeders or bird baths?
They don't seem to prefer one over the other, actually. I have a shallow earthenware dish, maybe an inch and a half deep, placed near my back fence. The birds use it constantly, making such a strong spray that I can sometimes hear it inside the house with the window closed. Then they jump onto the fence and preen for a full ten minutes afterward.
Don't leave water standing for too long without changing it. Two or three days is a maximum, especially after the temperature rises, otherwise algae and mosquitoes will multiply. Nobody wants that.
3. Plant something they can hide in and eat.
What plants help attract sparrows to the garden?
This takes longer than putting up a feeder, of course, because the plants need time. But it's worth the effort. Dense shrubs like privet or hawthorn provide cover for hawks and a good place to build their nests. Flowering ornamental grasses are another good option—let a patch of them grow wild instead of cutting them back each fall, and the birds will pick at the seed heads all winter long.
Sunflowers are also a great choice if space allows. Interestingly, a less well-maintained garden usually attracts more birds than a manicured one. My most tidy neighbor hardly ever sees any birds. Is it a coincidence? I don't think so.
And while we're talking about regional birds, there's an excellent guide to yellowbirds in Arizona if that's your area, and another guide that covers black and white birds in Texas as well.
4. Provide them with a place to breed.
Sparrows nest in cavities, meaning they seek out enclosed spaces—holes in trees, gaps under roof edges, old vents, and even gutters if you allow them. If you truly want them to stay year-round rather than just stop to feed, providing a suitable nesting place changes everything.
A simple wooden birdhouse with an entrance opening of 3-4 cm is sufficient. Place it in a shady spot – under a roof, near a tree, or anywhere else. Birds aren't particular about location; in fact, that's what makes them so adaptable.
5. Stop being so tidy
I know I've touched on this topic before in relation to plants, but it's worth reiterating. A manicured, chemically treated garden is useless to birds. No insects, no weed seeds, no hiding place. Let a corner of your garden grow freely. Skip the pesticides. Leave a small pile of twigs in a back corner if you can stand the sight of it. Sparrows, and most garden birds, will thank you.
6. Risk reduction
The sparrows look bold when they gather around the feeder, but they are actually very wary birds despite all that confidence. If they sense your garden is dangerous, they will leave quickly and not return.
Keep cats indoors, or at least under supervision, as they are a major cause of bird deaths in gardens—far more than people realize. Place bird feeders near bushes to provide a quick escape in case a hawk appears. And minimize your use of pesticides. Birds need insects as a source of protein, especially in the spring when they are feeding their chicks, and spraying pesticides destroys this food source at the very moment they need it most.
7. Give it some time – seriously.
Why don't my sparrows visit my bird feeder?
I get this question a lot, and most of the time the answer is patience. It took about three weeks before a single bird touched my first feeder. Birds need to discover a new food source, and that doesn't happen overnight.
There are a few things that can speed up the process: Keep the feeder in the same spot, don't leave it empty for days on end once the birds start showing interest, and make sure the seeds are fresh instead of leaving them uncovered for months until they spoil or rot. Location is also important; if the feeder is completely exposed with no cover nearby, the birds may feel too exposed and won't take any chances. Move it closer to a bush or fence and see what happens.
How can I attract more birds to my backyard naturally?
Boost your chances of attracting birds instead of relying on a single trick. Food is what draws them in. Food, water, shelter, and nesting sites are what transform a garden into a true bird sanctuary, one that birds return to season after season. Diversify your seed varieties, add a water source, and plant some native plants, and you'll likely start seeing sparrows and other small birds popping up in your backyard eventually—not just sparrows.
One lesson I learned after a bitter experience: Don't constantly move the bird feeder once the birds start using it. Birds get used to routines, and frequently changing the location of things confuses them and slows everything down.
They are more social than you imagine.
One of the things that surprised me when I started paying close attention to them was that sparrows are rarely seen alone. According to the Wikipedia article on sparrows , this species tends to form close-knit flocks and often nests in small, scattered colonies near buildings, which explains why they thrive in cities and suburbs in particular.
That constant chirping you hear in most neighborhoods, gas stations, and other places is mostly their voice. Once you notice it, it's hard to ignore. If you're interested in other bird colors in backyards, there's a great article about bluebirds in North Dakota , and this article about yellowbirds in Arkansas includes some good species as well.
What you learned so you wouldn't have to learn it yourself
Perhaps the biggest mistake I made initially was leaving the seeds damp and moldy. I left the food container full during a rainy week and didn't check it, so the birds completely avoided it once it spoiled. Frankly, moldy seeds can make them sick, so I learned my lesson. I now clean the food container every two weeks with soap and water, and let it dry completely before refilling it.
Cheap seed mixes filled with unwanted grains are another trap. Birds will pick out the unappealing material and scatter it everywhere, wasting money and attracting rodents instead of the desired birds. Mixes rich in millet are best suited for sparrows and are well worth the extra expense.
Don't worry if nothing happens during the first week or two. Once one bird finds your yard, the word spreads quickly among the flock. That's just their nature.
We conclude this
None of this is complicated once broken down into steps. A suitable feed trough, some millet, a shallow watering can, a shrub or two that you don't prune too much, maybe a birdhouse, and enough patience to wait a few weeks. That's the equation in a nutshell. If you regularly follow half of these steps, you'll have a vibrant little backyard garden before the end of summer.
If you want to delve deeper into bird-friendly habitat design, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has some really helpful resources on native plants and backyard habitats that fit well with all of the above.
If you've fallen in love with one of these little visitors, or if you're getting a pet bird and can't decide on a name, come and check out our bird naming services. We have plenty of fun and unique ideas for any bird that will join your life.