
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is in the Old World Sparrows family (Passeridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 220,310 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph House Sparrow: observations by month (U.S.)
About House Sparrow
The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. A small bird, it has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin,...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
House Sparrow by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 28,193 | April | Jan–Jul |
| Texas | 27,631 | April | Jan–Jun |
| New York | 17,369 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Illinois | 14,550 | April | Jan–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 10,970 | April | Feb–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 10,659 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Virginia | 7,243 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 6,482 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Ohio | 6,393 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Iowa | 6,383 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Maryland | 6,319 | April | Jan–Nov |
| New Jersey | 5,235 | May | Feb–Dec |
| Arizona | 4,790 | April | Dec–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 4,148 | May | Feb–Dec |
| Hawaii | 4,110 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Minnesota | 3,834 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Oregon | 3,500 | May | Dec–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 3,454 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Michigan | 3,384 | April | Dec–Oct |
| Washington | 3,217 | May | Mar–Sep |
| Indiana | 2,849 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Tennessee | 2,733 | April | Feb–Aug |
| Connecticut | 2,723 | February | Jan–Aug |
| North Carolina | 2,564 | April | Jan–Nov |
| Colorado | 2,539 | June | Dec–Oct |
| Utah | 2,434 | April | Mar–Jul |
| New Mexico | 2,310 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Missouri | 2,247 | May | Mar–Nov |
| Louisiana | 2,027 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 1,830 | April | Feb–Jul |
| Kansas | 1,526 | April | Jan–Jul |
| Alabama | 1,519 | April | Feb–May |
| Nebraska | 1,439 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Georgia | 1,296 | April | Jan–Jul |
| Kentucky | 1,247 | April | Feb–Sep |
| Arkansas | 1,213 | April | Jan–Jul |
| Nevada | 1,156 | March | Oct–Aug |
| Idaho | 1,077 | April | Oct–Aug |
| Vermont | 1,075 | April | Jan–Jun |
| South Carolina | 996 | May | Feb–Dec |
| Maine | 980 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Rhode Island | 823 | May | Apr–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 669 | June | Mar–Oct |
| West Virginia | 660 | April | Feb–Oct |
| Delaware | 548 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Montana | 520 | May | Feb–Oct |
| Mississippi | 500 | May | Feb–Jul |
| South Dakota | 384 | June | Mar–Aug |
| Wyoming | 347 | July | Apr–Aug |
| North Dakota | 212 | June | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph House Sparrow?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is House Sparrow most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, New York.