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House sparrow (Passer domesticus)

In Australia, the house sparrow is identified as an extreme threat, and the species profile says it should not be allowed to enter or be kept in any state or territory. Where present, it can compete with native birds and damage crops or consume poultry feed.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, bird.

Native to: Eurasia and northern Africa.

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA.

Other names: English sparrow, town sparrow, moineau domestique, gorrion casero.

Best time to act: House sparrows are non-migratory and may be present year-round; the species profile says poisoning is most effective in winter when food is scarce, but any control must comply with local requirements.

Identification

  • It is a small bird.
  • Males have a brown back with black streaks, a grey crown, and chestnut-red sides of the crown and nape.
  • The male has a black chin, throat and upper breast, with white cheeks.
  • Females and juveniles are less colourful, with a grey-brown crown and a light brown or buff eye stripe.
  • Females and juveniles have an unstreaked greyish-brown throat, breast and belly.
  • Look-alike: Similar species listed include the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) and Spanish sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis).
  • Look-alike: The dickcissel (Spiza americana) is also listed as a similar species.

Where it lives

In Australia, where encountered, it is associated with human-made structures in cities, towns and farms, and may forage in fields and agricultural areas.

Why it matters

  • It can compete with native birds for food and evict them from nests; species reported as displaced include bluebirds, Carolina wrens, woodpeckers and martins.
  • In Mexico, invaded areas were reported to have lower bird species richness, with species loss attributed to the invasion; no global extinction of a native species was evidenced in that assessment.
  • It has damaged ripening wheat, oats, corn, barley and sorghum, as well as peas, turnips, cabbage, young vegetables and various fruits.
  • On poultry farms, it can consume large quantities of chicken feed.

How it spreads

  • The species was intentionally introduced to the Americas.
  • Its close association with people has contributed to its successful invasion of North America.
  • It is non-migratory and is often associated with settlements and agricultural areas.

Control methods

  • The species profile assigns the house sparrow an Extreme threat category for Australia and says it should not be allowed to enter or be kept in any state or territory.
  • Reduce nesting and roosting opportunities by blocking building entrances larger than 2 cm and removing or altering resting places where appropriate.
  • Reduce available food by removing edible refuse, protecting small crops with bird netting, using clean livestock feeding practices and covering feed.
  • Use only locally approved control methods; options described include trapping, deterrence and nest destruction, and trapping may be difficult because sparrows can learn to avoid traps and nets.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Remove edible refuse and keep poultry and livestock feed covered to limit access and protect it from bird droppings.
  • Use clean livestock feeding practices.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Prohibited entrant. Wildlife that is not native to the NT is a prohibited entrant, so you need an NT permit to bring it in or keep it. Report any wild sighting to the NT Government.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources