House sparrow

House sparrows are found mainly in urban areas in the eastern half of the Northern Territory (NT).

They can also be found around remote homesteads where they survive on grains and seeds.

Impact

House sparrows in urban areas have little impact on biodiversity.

They are highly aggressive towards other birds and will take over the nest sites of native species.

House sparrows will also break the eggs of other birds, leading to a decline in native bird numbers.

In agricultural areas, house sparrows will eat large amounts of grain and seed, which affects the productivity of the farm.

Management

If you have a problem with house sparrows in or around your house, you can try the following options:

• block any holes or gaps around the house where they can build a nest
• remove active nests and eggs
• remove scraps of food near the house.