HOSP Nest, Egg and Young Photographs

Bulky HOSP nest, probably from multiple broods.

Nest description: Loose jumble of odds and ends, including coarse grass (with seed heads), cloth, feathers, twigs and sometimes litter (e.g., clear plastic, cigarette filters). Mid-summer nests sometimes contain bits of green vegetation (mustards or mints.) Tall nest, often with tunnel like entrance, particularly when built outside of a nestbox. In a nestbox may have more of a cup shape, and may be built up to cover sides of box. See more nest photos.

Eggs are cream, white, gray or greenish tint, with irregular fine brown speckles, shell is smooth with slight gloss. See more photos. The background color can vary, the color of the spots can vary, the thickness of spotting can vary, and the size can vary.

House Sparrow nest in a Two-holed Mansion built by Linda Violett from my no-trap Hill Trail. Photo by Bet Zimmerman. Notice tunnel like entrance that I do not usually see inside smaller nestboxes.

A typical HOSP nest in a NABS box below.This one was a takeover of an Eastern Bluebird nest which makes up the lower part.

These two eggs were found in one nest (H-11 on 05/19/07). Notice the difference in marking.

NOTE: House Sparrows are non-native invasive pests, and are not protected by law. They will attack and kill adult bluebirds (sometimes trapping them in the nestbox), and destroy eggs and young.  House Sparrow nests, eggs, young, and adults may be legally removed or destroyed.

It is better to have no box at all than to allow House Sparrows to reproduce in one.

HOSP eggs from the Hill Trail - again notice variability in coloring and markings. Makes me wonder about egg dumping.

Also see:

• more photos from the Hill Trail
• Wall of Shame - HOSP nests in commercial structures
• HOSP nests on the Hill Trail before I adopted it
• HOSP egg photos