Winter Feeding Patterns in the House Sparrow

Abstract

station. The weather data were taken from the records of the St. Paul weatlher station. Forty-nine of the House Sparrows were banded with colored bands, and four others lhad natural marks that allowed the identification of 53 individuals. These marked birds showed that the individuals using the feeding station were from several flocks. These flocks were usually composed of from 5 to 15 birds, although larger groups were seen occasionally. The birds apparently traveled considerable distances, as one individual appearing at the feeding station frequently was also observed feeding at a riding stable about 0.9 miles away. So far as was possible, the number of House Sparrows on the feeding station was recorded at 15-minute intervals throughout the day. The first observation of the day was usually made about a half hour before sunrise and the last about a half hour after sunset. Some 3,328 counts