Are you sure they are sparrows, most likely they are House Finches. I have never had sparrows of any kinds eat nyjer but I suppose they could. House Finches love it though just like Goldfinches. Oh and yes if they are eating it out of a wire feeder, they will eat it out of the stocking too. House Finches and Goldfinches feed the same way which is probably why they figured out the upside down one.

Donna

I'm guessing house finches too. When I had thistle feeders there were more house finches than goldfinches.

I know the difference between sparrows and house finch, and these are common sparrows. No reddish markings on the males..they are nesting in my arborvitae hedge. Idid read where sparrows will eat Nyjer seed if that is all tht is available. The Junco's and chickadeess fed on the Nyjer over the winter.

Get a pellet rifle and show no mercy.

Why not give it a try, socks are really cheap.

In my case, socks do not work. I get red wing blackbirds that scare away the finches.

Paul

So what do you consider common sparrows? Are they House Sparrows? (These are the only sparrows you can legally shoot as ronkw stated). There are also Chipping Sparrows, White-Throated Sparrows, White-Crowned Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows and I am sure many more varieties of Sparrows that will visit feeders. If you know for a fact that they are House Sparrows and can positively identify them I would get rid of thier nests that you say are in your hedge and maybe they will leave. "If" they are House Sparrows it is legal to remove their nests. House Sparrows are non native and are not protected like other native birds.

Donna

I think the original poster meant house sparrows. Other that that one freaky year of snow where I find tree sparrows and Junco's attempting to use the sock feeders, most sparrows feed only on the ground.

If you do hang a sock, hang it away from branches. I find that birds that can't use a sock will hang from a branch to get at it.

Paul

If they do have reddish markings and a black bib they are male House Sparrows. Females have a clear breast no streaking and a cream colored eye brow.

I only get a few House Sparrows here but would find a horde of them intolerable and would remove the feeders (especially during the summer/fall, when food is more abundant for birds).

There are more active measures you can take if you are willing. I have a BB gun but have never been able to hit one, however I have trapped a few with an inbox trap when Bluebirds were nesting in my yard. I would definitely remove the English Sparrow nests and discourage them from nesting in the Arborvitaes. Another thing I read you can do, is flush the birds from the arborvitaes on very cold nights. They will be unlikely to find new cover after dark and will be vulnerable to predators and hypothermia.

terrene, I have a huge American Arborvitae right off the front porch. I've been battling HOSP since we moved into this house. I'm going to try your flushing method.

HOSP eat anything you put out. Shelled and unshelled peanuts, nyjer, black oil sunflower seed, safflower, the list goes on. I used to buy only the best bird seed from Wild Birds Unlimited. No corn, no milo. But seeing the HOSP run all the other birds off, I gave up on feeders. I've planted a lot of berry and seed producing plants, drawing in the birds that way. Unfortunately, the HOSP don't want to leave. I'm in town, my bb gun is illegal. Trapping is not.

Encourage gulls whenever possible. THIS video will make your day if you despise HOSP like I do.