witnessed a vicious House Sparrow fight today... (1 Viewer)

[A2GG]

sorry I have no video of this fight. I was driving to work and noticed a scuffle on the sidewalk in front of our little town's library. It appeared to be House Sparrows. I didn't get the best look since I was stopped at a stop sign across the street and had to move along once a car came up behind me, but I was able to watch for about 20 seconds or so. Anyway I am unsure if it was 2 male H.Sparrows fighting b/c it was just a ball of fury on the sidewalk and eventually it appeared one had the other pinned down as I drove by and that was my last view. But, there was a female watching the fight on the grass the whole time. At one point when the fight moved over towards the edge of the sidewalk, the female flew over to the other side of the grass to get a better view of the fight. It was interesting and a little upsetting at the same time to watch all of this. Has anyone ever seen this before and do they ever fight to the death or serious injury? Why do you think they were fighting? I am assuming they were fighting over territory/nesting site or the female herself. Also, I've read that male H. Sparrows have a pecking order and will fight for the domniant spot, but would a female watch this?

 

[Troubador]

Hi Beth

Its an interesting observation. My guess is the female was already paired with one of the males and they were ejecting a male from their territory.

Their territory is hardly worthwhile calling it a territory as it consists of the nest site (usually a hole or similar) and a very small area around it. In the UK at least, there has been a decline in House Sparrows over the decades that many observers link with what humans perceive as improvements to houses and buildings but which leave fewer holes and openings for House Sparrows to get in.

It's possible that the incoming male had spotted the nest site and went to have a look and caused the defensive behaviour. There is some evidence as well that female House Sparrows are attracted to vigorous males (like young women then ) so its quite likely the females take a great interest in who comes out on top of these encounters.

Lee

 

[fugl]

I'm sure Troubador is right about this. House sparrows breed in my yard and I occasionally see male-on-male fights of the kind you describe. They're invariably in the breeding season near nesting sites and must involve territorial/sexual competition of some sort.

 

[A2GG]

thanks guys...yeah, I totally assumed it was a fight over either the female or over the nest site, but I can never leave the obvious alone ...I usually over-analyze and wonder if there is something else that I may have missed or was not aware of. Like I said, I've never witnessed this type of bird 'wrestling' with such intensity before. It was surprising to see them on the sidewalk tumbling, wings flapping, biting and wrestling in such a way with the female on the side observing. I have seen fights at the feeder, crows mobbing hawks, etc., but not something like this. I'm sure I'll see this type of behavior again if I just look for it. I hope the loser didn't get killed or seriously injured and was able to live on and find his own mate and nest site.

 

[A2GG]

Hi Beth

There is some evidence as well that female House Sparrows are attracted to vigorous males (like young women then ) so its quite likely the females take a great interest in who comes out on top of these encounters.

Lee

haha so true about some human females. ugh...never cared one iota for male 'macho' type behavior or bragging. That type of thing still makes me sick really. But, I've known some women (younger women in a lot of cases) who seemed to respect this type of behavior and then I am reminded we are still a part of the animal kingdom (just the top predator). :cat:

 

[Troubador]

thanks guys...yeah, I totally assumed it was a fight over either the female or over the nest site, but I can never leave the obvious alone ...I usually over-analyze and wonder if there is something else that I may have missed or was not aware of. Like I said, I've never witnessed this type of bird 'wrestling' with such intensity before. It was surprising to see them on the sidewalk tumbling, wings flapping, biting and wrestling in such a way with the female on the side observing. I have seen fights at the feeder, crows mobbing hawks, etc., but not something like this. I'm sure I'll see this type of behavior again if I just look for it. I hope the loser didn't get killed or seriously injured and was able to live on and find his own mate and nest site.

If fights were ever commonly 'to the death' or 'to serious injury' amongst House Sparrows, those bloodlines (one should say genes) would have petered out long ago. Dead or injured House Sparrows don't have many babies.

Fights can be serious but they tend to be the exception rather than the rule.

And don't apologise for studying or discussing the obvious. It is almost certainly the case that it is not as obvious as we think. There is always more to learn.

Lee

 

[Troubador]

haha so true about some human females. ugh...never cared one iota for male 'macho' type behavior or bragging. That type of thing still makes me sick really. But, I've known some women (younger women in a lot of cases) who seemed to respect this type of behavior and then I am reminded we are still a part of the animal kingdom (just the top predator). :cat:

Top predator we may be but the human race sometimes has a time perspective no longer than that possessed by a dim-witted flea. With apologies to fleas.
:cat:

TroubaLee

 

[A2GG]

Top predator we may be but the human race sometimes has a time perspective no longer than that possessed by a dim-witted flea. With apologies to fleas.
:cat:

TroubaLee

true !