This plain little bird is known as the house sparrow because it makes its nest around houses, barns or other buildings. It is also called the English sparrow since the British first introduced them to North America in 1850 in an attempt to control caterpillars that were damaging trees where they lived in Brooklyn, New York. Others were introduced in other parts of the United States over the next 25 years, and these persistent birds spread all over the United States and up into Canada and in many parts of South and Central America. Only Alaska and far northern Canada do not have these birds in North America.
Although we see many sparrows hopping about on paved streets and sidewalks in cities, they also live in brush beside cultivated fields, but almost never in completely natural habitats. Near people, they find food more easily.
Sparrows prefer to nest near houses, on parts of houses, on street lights, or pretty much anywhere other than natural nesting spots like holes in trees. They defend their nests quite fiercely.
Scientists have found that young sparrows’ food has to be at least 70% larvae and insects. As they grow, the amount of “living food” drops to only 3%, while adult sparrows feed almost entirely on seeds. Since the parents must feed the little ones until they mature, how do they know that the babies need a diet so different from their own? They could only have learned this from God, the One who created and watches over them.
The sparrow can see a wider range of colors than people can. Also, since its eyes are on the side of its head, it can see ahead, to both sides and slightly behind itself. This permits it to keep alert for hawks, buildings, trees and other objects while flying. But it has less ability to see in three dimensions than we do, since its eyes don’t work together quite like ours do.
There is a “pecking order” in flocks of sparrows, just as with chickens. You can spot the older and more dominant males of the flock by looking for the larger black spots on their throats.
How amazing it is to think that God knows about the death of even a small, common bird like the sparrow which many people consider a pest. But everything matters to Him who watches over all living things. He sees each little sparrow that falls, but He cares about you and me much, much more, because He says, “Ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Did You Know?
Young sparrows’ food has to be at least 70% larvae and insects.
Messages of God’s Love 6/1/2025