Thanks, very much everyone for your positive feedback. IÂm so pleased you like the photos. They are so much fun for me to do and more fun to share. Sue White-throated Sparrows can be quite variable. The one shown here is a tan-striped morph as opposed to the white-striped morph that you have there. This bird is probably a youngster also because of the heavy streaking on the breast feathers. Some adults do retain some streaking but I donÂt think quite this much. Sparrows can be a real challenge to ID. Gldno, thanks, I didnÂt know that the juvie White-crowned had red-brown coloring on their heads. Neat! This is the first one of these IÂve ever had here. There is only this one in a large flock of mixed Juncos and sparrows. Marian, yes we do get Purple Finches here, they are our state bird, but I only rarely get them in my feeders. The females do look just like sparrows. T. no, no, no No snow envy You donÂt want this We have way too much. But if you insist IÂd be happy to ship it all your way. LOL Thanks! Michelle and Eileen, "unbirded" LOL Deanne

Absolutely a female HOSP. House Finches have striped breast. They DO occasionally use nestboxes. Other brown birds that use nestboxes include House Wrens (pointy beak) and occasionally Carolina Wrens (pointy beak.) See other brown birds link. Sometimes other brown birds temporarily perch on a nestbox but would not go inside. E.g., chipping sparrow, which has a chestnut cap and distinctive black eye stripe. I have heard VERY sad tales of people killing Black-capped chickaee (black bib) or shooting other song sparrows at feeders. It is, of course, important to be absolutely SURE of identity before taking ANY active control measures. Also important, of course, to check inbox traps hourly. Even tho this is a "live trap," A native bird trapped in a box for longer can die. House wrens will be out and about soon - already in Ohio. Here is a link that might be useful: other brown birds sometimes confused with HOSP

I would go ahead and set the trap if they have an active nest. I would set it immediately after work and keep it going until both are caught. I would even leave it set during work, if I had too. I forgot I had set a trap once and went to work all day. I noticed it was sprung when I got home. So I put the mesh bag over the box and slowly opened to door, I saw a small bird laying on its back with its feet in the air. I thought it was dead and opened the door all the way to determine the species. It was a male HOSP and he quickly awoke and tried to escape. I barely caught him. I dont think temperatures are that hot yet so I wouldn't worry about one dieing in the box. I don't think a native would go in an active nest anyhow. I know some in the purple martin community believe in "sparrow revenge" or "sparrow rage", which occurs when a HOSP nest are often disturbed. The HOSP becomes frustrated and destroys the nests of other cavity nesters. So they recommend trapping or shooting rather than disturbing the nest. They are also confident that natives wont enter a HOSP nest, some routinely use glue traps in the nests. You could still remove a native if you had too.

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.