SPECIES CHAMPIONS

house sparrow
House Sparrows are chunky birds, slightly
bigger than Great Tits, with relatively large heads and
stout beaks. The back and wings of both sexes are
streaked brown and black. House Sparrows like to eat
seeds, shoots, scraps and insects, and can be found from
the centre of cities to the farmland of the countryside. It
feeds and breeds near to people. However, House Sparrows
have been disappearing from around the country. In fact,
since the first RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch took place in 1979,
house sparrow numbers have dropped by 57%, a figure which
rises to 90% or even higher in some urban areas like Glasgow.
The house sparrow is on the Red List of Birds of Conservation
MSP Concern.
Species
Champion
Christine Grahame

1. Planting deciduous shrubs in your

garden as house sparrows need thick
cover to escape from predators, rest, roost
and socialise
www.scotlink.org
@SpeciesChampion 2. Clean feeders regularly to avoid build up
of bacteria or diseases
Lorna.scott@rspb.org.uk
@RSPBScotland
3. Place feeders within a metre of a
hedge or bush to provide cover
`
from predators

Feeding spaces have been restricted

In urban areas

Loss of nest sites

Increased levels of cat predation

Competition for food with other

species