House Sparrow

The House Sparrow was first introduced to North America in the 1850s to help
control insect pests. Now it is common over much of our continent south of the
60th parallel. It thrives in urban environments, and is now such a common sight in
cities that it is often overlooked. Its noisy song, a series of monotonous chirrups, is
memorable only for the enthusiasm with which it is delivered.
An adaptable cavity-nesting bird, the House Sparrow has learned to make good use
of buildings and is very fond of birdhouses. In fact, this sparrow often moves into
birdhouses intended for other, more attractive bird species. If nest box entrances are
38 millimetres in diameter or less, they cannot squeeze their round bodies into the
nest site. House Sparrows are a major part of the winter diet for many hawks

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