The best bird feeder and seed for sparrows
Song, white-throated, chipping and white-crowned sparrows feed on the ground. Millet also feeds non-native house sparrows. If they take over, switch the tray to safflower for a while.
Which feeder types do sparrows use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground tray | Millet, cracked corn | None | A low mesh tray a few inches off the ground keeps seed out of wet soil. |
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
| Hopper feeder | Sunflower, safflower, mixes | Poor unless weight-activated or baffled | A house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals. |
Feeders sparrows use, budget to premium
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What seed do sparrows like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| White proso millet | The best of the small grains, but also a favourite of non-native house sparrows and cowbirds. Offer it on a tray, not in a hanging feeder. | Keeps well |
| Sunflower hearts and chips | Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
| Cracked corn | Offer only what disappears in a day. Wet, mouldy corn is dangerous to birds. Also attracts house sparrows, blackbirds and geese. | Keep dry; wet corn grows aflatoxin mould |
Food to buy for sparrows
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Where and when should you feed sparrows?
- Height and spot: Ground level near shrubs.
- When: Year round, with more species in winter.
- Range: Varies by species; every region has several.
- Feeding style: Comfortable feeding on the ground or a low tray, so clear spilled seed and keep cats away.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, chickadees and titmice, which use the same feeder types.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the sparrows feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for sparrows on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for sparrows?
A ground tray is the most reliable choice for sparrows. Song, white-throated, chipping and white-crowned sparrows feed on the ground. Pair it with white proso millet, place it ground level near shrubs, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a platform or tray feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do sparrows eat at feeders?
In order of preference: white proso millet, sunflower hearts and chips and cracked corn. The best of the small grains, but also a favourite of non-native house sparrows and cowbirds. Offer it on a tray, not in a hanging feeder. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for sparrows?
Ground level near shrubs. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so sparrows can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do sparrows come to feeders?
Year round, with more species in winter. Range: Varies by species; every region has several. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season sparrows are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do sparrows use birdhouses?
No. Sparrows build open nests in shrubs, trees or on the ground and do not use enclosed nest boxes. Dense native shrubs, brush piles and leaving leaf litter in place do far more for them than any structure.