Will martins run other birds off
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Duane33067
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:51 pm
- Location: MO/Exeter
I see male and female martin going to my martin house will they nest if another brown bird has a nest in one of the holes.
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Duane,
You will need to start by ID-ing the brown bird. House Sparrow, House Wren, House Finch - each calls for a different response.
Read here: http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... ve/FAQ.htm and take a look at these photos:http://www.purplemartin.org/species/housesparrow.html
Can you get a photo of the brown bird? It's most likely a House Sparrow but you need to get a solid ID before taking any steps to deal with it.
It's great that you have a pair of martins building!
You will need to start by ID-ing the brown bird. House Sparrow, House Wren, House Finch - each calls for a different response.
Read here: http://www.purplemartin.org/forumarchiv ... ve/FAQ.htm and take a look at these photos:http://www.purplemartin.org/species/housesparrow.html
Can you get a photo of the brown bird? It's most likely a House Sparrow but you need to get a solid ID before taking any steps to deal with it.
It's great that you have a pair of martins building!
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Duane33067
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 2:51 pm
- Location: MO/Exeter
I think it is house sparrow in my martin house
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Nest ID photos here should help: http://www.purplemartin.org/update/NestID.pdf
If they are house sparrows, best solution is trapping or shooting them. The martins will not run them off, and they often break martin eggs and peck nestling martins, killing them and tossing them from the house.
Some house sparrow ID points to look for are the large black throat/chest bib on the male house sparrow.
If they are house sparrows, best solution is trapping or shooting them. The martins will not run them off, and they often break martin eggs and peck nestling martins, killing them and tossing them from the house.
Some house sparrow ID points to look for are the large black throat/chest bib on the male house sparrow.