An English Male Sparrow

An English male sparrow on the bird feeder in a country garden.

What are Sparrows?

Sparrows are native to England (as well as other countries) and make their homes in hedgerows in towns, cities, rural areas, fields and woodlands.

A male sparrow's black chest and white cheeks, as well as two white stripes above its eyes, identify it as such. In addition to seeds and berries, sparrows consume insects and worms.

There are different types of sparrows across the Europe and the United Kingdom, but they are widespread throughout the country.

People have been destroying the habitats of Sparrows in the UK, as well as many other bird species, by removing hedgerows and using fence panels around their properties instead. This has been compounded by the introduction of plastic grass that prevents birds like Sparrows from foraging for grubs.

Between 1977 and 2008, the Breeding Bird Survey recorded a 71% drop in house sparrows across both rural and urban areas of Britain, if the data are to be trusted. However, in England, populations have continued to decline, but in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, they have increased.

There is hope that native plants will be replanted in the country's hedges, thanks to charities like Sowing Seeds Trust, which work with schools and communities to accomplish this goal. This will probably result in more of these shy birds being seen in the future.

The RSPB is striving hard to restore these magnificent creatures, and you can assist them by planting indigenous shrubs and trees, particularly those that bear fruit.

Shrubs that bear berries, such as rose, rowan, and hawthorn, may entice them to visit your garden in winter. You may also provide them with suet to provide extra calories in the cold months, such as sunflower or peanut butter.

House Sparrows can be enticed to visit your lawn if you provide them with nesting material such as dried grass, twigs, and leaves.