House (English) Sparrow

Most people regret the efforts made in the 19th century to transplant the House Sparrow from Europe. House sparrows, which belong to a completely different family from our native sparrows, drive bluebirds, wrens, and other songbirds from nesting sites; they tear up nests, destroy eggs; and toss out nestlings.  The species reached its peak early in this century.  Since then, numbers have declined; probably because of the scarcity of horses and therefore of the waste horse feed eaten by the birds.

Hanging strips of foil or plastic to the top of bluebird houses has been found a useful way discourage invasion of bluebird houses by house sparrows.

House Sparrow