I noticed in the results of the BGBW that sparrows were the most commonly seen bird - but I don't think I've ever seen one in my garden! What do they like to eat? Where would I see them? Am intrigued!
Hi Somethingofadreamer,
I love the Sparrows In my garden,I don't have as many as some people,I get anywhere between 10 and 30 of them.
This Is one of the males.Mine like to eat robin Blend,sunflower hearts and fat balls.You can often hear them In trees and shrubs chirrping away.
Littleowl
Here's a few of mine - they're great birds to have. For me, they like mixed seed blent, no mess and sunflower hearts.
Here's El Jefe - he likes giving the orders
and a close up of one of the females
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
I too love my Sparrows. They like conifers and come to the one in my garden which I have put the feeders for them. They were the very first birds to visit my feeders and like the standard mixed seed.
They also like to feed from the ground,
I know some people have them visit and eat fat and suet, but they never touch it in my garden.
This is one of the males from my colony.
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Thanks Littleowl, Kezmo and Sarah for your lovely sparrow photographs. I always love to see them but very rarely see one in our garden.
I have a colony of about 30 plus. They live as a group and prefer the cover of an evergreen conifer bush, privet hedge or evergreen shrub like an established cotoneaster. They will eat any sort of seed, mealworms and suet pellets, but prefer their feeders to be right next to the hedge or bush so they can hop on and off without having to fly to it. They will also eat from the ground. Mine spend all day in my thick conifer hedge, where they sit on the top of it keeping watch. If they sense danger they just dive head first to the middle of the hedge, out of sight.
This is a fat fluffed up male looking a bit grumpy on top of the hedge
another male at the side of the hedge
a pretty female on top of the hedge
a group keeping watch on top of the hedge
If they are anywhere near your garden you will hear them. They chirrup, chatter and gossip none stop all day.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Thanks for the answers and pics! Looking at the pics I wonder if I have seen a female or two and mistaken them for a chaffinch - my eyesight isn't that great - I'll keep a closer eye out! Also my upstairs neighbour told me the other day she had seen a tiny black and white bird with a red head on my seed feeder - i thought she must have meant a goldfinch and not noticed the yellow but now I wonder if it was a male sparrow and looked black and white from where she was... Interesting! Will keep you informed ;)
It is quite common to mistake sparrows for female chaffinches. I know, I have done it myself and been shot down by the experts on the forum!!! LOL. Male sparrows in particular have white streaks on their wings, and in flight can look very like a chaffinch. Female sparrows have similar head markings to female chaffinches.
What your mum saw sounds very much like a redpoll. They are tiny - similar size to a goldfinch, with sparrow-like markings and a red hat. They eat nyjer seed or other tiny seeds. I have been lucky to have a pair in my garden on and off since the winter snow. They are unusual garden visitors.
Hi somethingofadreamer,
Sparrow has said what I was thinking about the Redpoll - keep your eyes peeled and you may be pleasantly surprised :o)
I've mistaken Chaffinches for one of my Sparrows quite a few times, and the one which I call Patch because she has some very heavy white markings has even confused my dad's twticher business partner!
Having said that I've also overlooked Greenfinches because they mingle with the Sparrows, but I'm digressing now.
I have a colony of over 30 House Sparrows, whom I love dearly as they bring hours of entertainment with them. But I have mentioned in the past ow they have become terribly fussy eaters.
They now like the RSPB no mess sunflower mix and their buggy suet balls. but they have always liked suet balls as that's what they first came here for.
If you've got a good seed mix out and a few different its and bobs, they're bound to find something on your menu that they like :o)