UK Wildlife

House Sparrow Urban Population Decline

The house sparrow has declined dramatically in UK urban areas since the 1990s, with London and other cities losing over 60% of their population for reasons not fully understood.

Key Facts

UK house sparrow population declined by over 68% between 1977 and 2008
Urban decline is steeper than rural, with some cities losing almost all birds
House sparrows are intensely social, rarely found alone
Nest in buildings, using cavities under tiles and in eaves
Colony formation means that if one bird finds food, others follow

Welfare Considerations

House sparrow declines may relate to changes in urban building design reducing nest sites, loss of invertebrates for chick feeding, reduced weed seed availability, and air quality. Restoration of sparrow colonies requires multiple targeted interventions.

What You Can Do

Install sparrow terrace nest boxes on south-facing walls of buildings
Provide supplementary seed including millet and sparrow-favourite foods
Leave areas of bare earth for sparrow dust bathing which is essential behaviour