SparrowThe State Bird of Delhi

Riya Rai(Vth C) Roll No: 38

Veda Vyasa D.A.V. Public School, Vikas Puri

FACTS ABOUT SPARROWS• Sparrows are social birds, nesting

closely to one another and flying and feeding in small flocks.

• They live in nests, nests are located under roofs, bridges, in three hollows etc.

• Sparrows can swim to escape from predators, although not a water bird.

• Male sparrow has reddish back and black bib, female sparrow has brown back with eye stripe.

• Their diet consists of seeds, small invertebrates, crumbs etc.

Habitat of Sparrow

• Sage sparrows, for instance, prefer sagebrush cover in their arid habitat and prefer to build their small, cup-shaped nests in living sagebrush.

• Field sparrows, on the other hand, prefer to build their nests near or even on the ground.

• Chipping sparrow prefer more wooded areas, but still not in dense forests. Chipping sparrows typically inhabit forest edges that are close to a wide, open area for feeding.

• Song sparrows often live in moister habitats, such as fields along the edge of freshwater bodies.

Eating Habits

• Sparrows Eat Mostly – Grains – Seeds, – Livestock Feed – Corn, – Oats, – Wheat– Sorghum. – Wild Foods Include Ragweed, Crabgrass

And Other Grasses, and Buckwheat. – Birdseed Including Millet, Milo, and

Sunflower Seeds. – Insects

Why Sparrows are Getting Endangered

Recent studies had shown that the population of house sparrows was on the decline in many parts of the country, including Kerala, said Dr Sainudeen Pattazhy, Associate Professor of  Zoology at SN College at Kollam.

Introduction of unleaded petrol Widespread use of garden pesticides Unscientific proliferation of mobile

phone towers

Steps to Save

• Help Sparrows in summer by putting Water Pot

• Provide grains on the top of the roof• Celebrate World Sparrow Day on

20th March• Adopt a nest box and bird feeder or

hang old shoes on top• Say yes to green living• Oppose to use pesticide in parks• Educate neighbors for not to opt

tower in residential places

Breeding Season

• House Sparrows can breed in the breeding season immediately following their hatching, and sometimes attempt to do so.

• Some birds breeding for the first time in tropical areas are only a few months old and still have juvenile plumage

• Birds breeding for the first time are rarely successful in raising young, and reproductive success increases with age, as older birds breed earlier in the breeding season, and fledge more young

• The timing of mating and egg-laying varies geographically, and between specific locations and years. This is because a sufficient supply of insects is needed for egg formation and feeding nestlings.

Differentiate between Male and Female Sparrow

• The difference between a Female and a Male House sparrow is sometimes difficult to detect. However, there are black spots on the beak of the male sparrow. The male sparrow also has a grey crown and a black bib, almost like a beard. The female house sparrow is much browner in appearance with only the faintest of a white wing bar, which you can just see in the picture below. The female also has a slightly shorter tail.