Birds Habitat Generalists - Page 3

Perhaps the best-known generalist is the House Sparrow. Like most of us, its ancestors were immigrants; the House Sparrow was originally a European bird that was brought here to control garden insects. Many wagon trains in the last century took along a few caged House Sparrows to release at their destination. Although not prone to much wandering, this species has spread over most of North America.

As with most generalists, House Sparrows are nearly omnivorous and are not too particular about their best sites, although they are generally cavity nesters. Extremely prolific birds, House Sparrows nest in outdoor lighting fixtures, in birdhouses, and in the nooks and crannies of buildings, as well as in trees. They are adaptable in finding food as they are in finding nest sites. This adaptability makes them sturdy survivors.