House Sparrow | A Common Bird With A Dark History

[@d3f3kt57]

I love house sparrows (then again, they are not considered an invasive species where I live). They got me into bird watching and ornithology in general. It is always a joy watching them hopping around and observing how every one of them has a different personality. I think the hatred people have for them is very misguided. After all, they did not cross the Atlantic Ocean on their own... hatred should be directed towards those who had the genius idea of introducing an extremely adaptable non-native species. Humans have only themselves to blame for interfering with the delicate balance of nature.

[@doveseye.4666]

Wrong!!!!!😮

[@tonypatters5090]

Yep the people to blame are long gone now they attack my Goldfinches and chickadees

[@jasonhernandez619]

"We're upset because we can't control them" -- that's pretty much the usual reason humans get upset with anything or anyone.

[@banbaji]

Intersting to hear that sparrows are aggressive in NA. The sparrows in Korea (참새) are super chill, and other birds hangout with their groups often. We also setup a bird feeder just for them a few weeks ago, and their antics are super cute!

[@MarvynG]

In American there's a smaller, native blue bird they fight and sometimes even kill. One time there was a Sparrow fight in the yard, it was quite violent.

[@Wild_Pennsylvania]

They always seem to get along with the house finches and chipping sparrows that regularly visit my feeders.

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

They're so cute. The ones at my feeder can hold their own against bigger birds that like to throw their weight around like the cardinals and the blue jays.

[@countrylifeisgreat]

I live in the country in the midwest (USA). Each spring / summer, I rescue many birds who have fallen from nests, etc where the parents do not return (when the birds are well and old enough, we do release them). We have Sparrows, Grackles, Robbins, Doves, Killdeers and a few other species. I would love to have Blue Jays and Cardinals, however, no luck so far. Perhaps the sparrows do bully... but, all that I see is a few scuffles for territory between the sparrows and Robbins. Otherwise, they all seem to co-exist nicely. We did have a male Cardinal visit our farm property a couple months ago, but decided not to stay. Currently I have one Sparrow left from the last nest that fell from a high tree. This little sparrow is such a delight. She is so sweet. And like any human, or animals... all personalities are different. I love Sparrows!

[@SuperKabookie]

Well I like all birds! It’s not their fault that they thrive in our world. ❤❤❤

[@Pukekoz]

I love the sparrows in my yard! They're often the ones scared away by other birds, like rosellas and currawongs. I can actually see about 30 outside my window in my yard eating seed right now!

[@KarlBunker]

Having spent parts of my life living in big cities and in more rural, wooded areas, I think of house sparrows (along with pigeons) as being city birds. But I guess they're found in farming country as well. I remember watching bird behavior as a kid in the city: When pigeons find a crust of bread or whatever, they'll stand there and eat it, soon being joined by other pigeons. But when a sparrow finds food, they'll grab it and (if it's not too big) fly off with it. So they seemed kind of stingy. 😊

[@awrinkleintimeyesterday6067]

I have lived in rural areas my whole life and have fed birds for decades, I get chirping sparrows and only the occasional house sparrow. I get doves, but do not get pigeons. My sister lives in the same state but in a suburban area and she gets flocks of house sparrow that get aggressive at the feeder even with each other. On several occasions she found one dead apparently beaten up by the feeding frenzy. I think most people who feed birds are ok with a few of any bird coming, but when we get flocks they hog the feeders and keep others away, and empty all the food.

[@Hallands.]

I love Passer domesticus.

[@jc2711]

Learned a lot with this one. We like sparrows!

[@dianestiner8602]

I love these three species of birds 💓. They are strong and adapted in our cities and are our daily companions. It is unfair to treat them so badly. But people do, here too 😢

[@karmajangchup]

There's no bird that I don't like 🐦

[@NightInstincts27]

I’d love a video about Blue Jays ( Cyanocitta cristata) They can be little meanies. >:( but I still love em

[@Braley21]

I just found your channel and i love your videos! Could you do a video on orioles? I think they have the coolest nests!

[@Barakon]

Them & pigeons are domesticated birds, it’s like if people started to call cats pests due to being abandoned.

[@raylopez99]

Cats are pests. Feral cats I think kill more birds than people realize.

[@theotheseaeagle]

House sparrows are not domesticated but have lived around human habitation for thousands of years

[@jasonhernandez619]

Bird people hate cats at least as much as they hate house sparrows.

[@theotheseaeagle]

@@jasonhernandez619 I don’t hate cats or house sparrows. Cats control rodents that are much worse for bird populations, and house sparrows are native where i live

[@cazu2479]

Yes pigeons are domesticated but house sparrows are not

[@markshen3280]

House Sparrows are cute 🥰. In Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR and Singapore 🇸🇬, there are the European Tree Sparrows. But recently, I have noticed that there are some Old World Sparrows in Hong Kong 🇭🇰.

[@Poketronics]

These birdies nest under the clay roof tiles on my home. They also congregate in my bushes and trees and make a huge ruckus. They are welcome here!

[@HamsterPants522]

I can't blame the animal for being invasive... It's just unfortunate.

[@frankmitchell3594]

The result of a "natural" solution to one problem creating another.

[@brentturcotte2627]

House Sparrows are in decline in central Ontario (Nipissing, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Temiskaming Districts) and northern Ontario. Likely due to forest succession. Around North Bay they can only be found in a few barns in surrounding communities and country side. I have only seen them once at our feeders in North Bay. Over 50 years ago they were common in North Bay.

[@killyGHILLIE]

You raise a great debate. I have often thought at what point is something introduced allowed to live. I was born in Australia but my ancestors moved here in our recent colonial past. When the sparrow, fox, hare, rat, mouse and rabbit are accepted, I guess I'll feel at home here too.

[@Rhinogradentian]

I rather like House Sparrows, but they are a pest here in Australia. Its common in indoor eateries like food-courts that sparrows will make themselves at home in order to scavenge crumbs and even eat un-attended food. I prefer them over pigeons because pigeons get underfoot and sometimes leave large messy droppings, depending on what you feed them. The Sparrows are prettier and more light-footed than pigeons and are more aesthetic. The excuse the English had for introducing them here was worse than in the USA, many common British birds were introduced in order to make the British colonists feel more at home, it was thought that the sound and sight of starlings, sparrows and blackbirds would be comforting.

[@MennoNate]

Very informative video! I am not a farmer so I just get to watch them. I always thought the house sparrows call sounds a bit like window shield wipers swiping back and forth.

[@KenNeumeister]

sparrows fascinate me

[@Stratelier]

Philosophical question: at what point over time (especially on the evolutionary timescale) does a species stop being "invasive"? When does the species earn its ecological citizenship in a given region?

[@MarvynG]

maybe 2 or 3,000 years.

[@quitlife9279]

If the species is no longer growing in numbers in an area it's no longer invasive. By now sparrows are no longer invasive just about anywhere as they have long became established and their numbers are stable. They are not even migrating. "Invasive" is just racist ideology.

[@somemaden]

They were also introduced on the West coast. That is seldom noted. In LA, after the earlier mentioned big three , there are mostly other invasive species and scrub jays and western mocking birds. with no deciduous trees, and little water those little rascals' are necessary.

[@JungleJoeVN]

What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. I have to add that I'm not religious and this verse is one of the reasons. One sparrow's life holds the same value as that of any other. ❤ Nature holds all equal regardless of species.❤ ❤❤❤❤❤

[@andyjay729]

Basically feathered mice. And for the record, I like mice (as long as they're not damaging my house).

[@jeffgerndt2813]

Every creature has its place.

[@IMADALBASRII]

I love them their sound and playing around really nice birds They smart too They have behaviour I couldn’t yet find explanation for it they formed circle few birds and two in meddle they chat loudly I didn’t see any other birds do this act

[@HerbysHanz]

Hello. They make good pets. They r the good to eat. They can immitate tunes. They dont eat flowers of trees. They eat the maggits. I am speaking as a city dweller. 🙏

[@fantasia55]

How can sparrows have thrived in the USA with so little genetic diversity - only 16 ancestors?

[@helenamcginty4920]

I only found out last year that sparrows mate for life. The male makes about 6 nests and the female chooses which ones she wants to use.

[@raylopez99]

Uh, no. "While their courtship rituals and pair bonding suggest a strong connection, the idea that House Sparrows mate for life isn’t entirely accurate. Research indicates that these birds often exhibit monogamous tendencies, forming bonds for a breeding season rather than a lifetime."

[@daveh777]

I thankfully have never had any around my house or feeders, but if I do they will be eradicated.

[@triumph.over.shipwreck]

I feel the same way about you.

[@jimk8520]

“Humans messed up” what else is new?

[@LthrWrstlr1]

They would have made it over the Atlantic eventually on their own.

[@Doantssleep]

Did they go extinct? Please tell

[@louisebelair2245]

I love sparrows. I feed them during winter with the other birds and in summer they eat the insects. More than I know them more that I love them. they are very intelligent en ressourfull birds.

[@kitkat5765]

I think they're quite lovely looking, and you have to admire their sheer tenacity, but I don't mind them being humanely and responsibly culled where they're invasive or where they're invading bird boxes of other species etc (same with european starlings).

[@Jmatad21]

I dont think birds understand the concept of country, borders, etc. They are not that smart.

[@coldspring624]

I remove them