Nesting House sparrows?

Keith Talbot · #1 (**permalink**) 20-12-2009, 12:53 PM

Im currently sat watching a male and female House sparrow building a nest in a nest box we have in the garden,is this normal for this time of year? are they just building a roost for winter?

We've had this box up for years and only ever had a pair of Blue tits nest in it once a couple of years ago so its nice to see

Keith

Jenny W · #2 (**permalink**) 20-12-2009, 01:09 PM

I read that Tree Sparrows will sometimes do this as part of a sort of 'autumn/winter period of breeding behaviour', but it doesn't usually lead to any actual breeding and it is usually finished by now, I think it tends to be more Sept/Oct time if I remember correctly (someone may tell me I'm completely wrong here!

) . Not sure if this behaviour is known for House Sparrows too.

Also in unusually warm weather during the winter, sometimes birds display breeding behaviour - not that it's warm at the moment!

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 20-12-2009, 01:35 PM

The Sparrows (my sparrows) have set up home across from me but I have not seen any nest materials.
I do however have a Coal Tit that is fascinated by one of the nest boxes near the house. It spends the best part of the day looking in it, around it,
and just occasionaly going in for periods varying from a few seconds to half
a minute. My assumption is that it is a young bird using it as a roost

Keith Talbot · #4 (**permalink**) 20-12-2009, 02:44 PM

It did look a bit like breeding behavior,they were both sat on top of the greenhouse and he was ' bobing ' his head,he was then going in and out of the box with nesting material,

Theyve stopped now and as far as im aware they are not inside the box,i'll have to keep an eye on it.

SheffieldLass · #5 (**permalink**) 20-12-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Talbot

It did look a bit like breeding behavior,they were both sat on top of the greenhouse and he was ' bobing ' his head,he was then going in and out of the box with nesting material,

Theyve stopped now and as far as im aware they are not inside the box,i'll have to keep an eye on it.

Maybe it is their equivalent of a sold subject to contract board

.... they are telling others it is taken ....

P.S. I've noticed that male bluetits roost in their boxes during the winter which seems to be a way of reserving it for the family nest in the spring.