Dan, Your observations mirror my observations here in Hays. House Sparrow numbers are really higher this year than House Finches.
Saludos y nos vemos más tarde, EJF
For wherever we come together, We will forever overcome. Amanda Gorman
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From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of Dan Mulhern <browndog06...>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2026 9:12 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: "House" birds
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I remember being excited when House Finches began moving into the Manhattan area, maybe in the 1980s. Now I didn't have to go visit family in Denver to see them. Once they firmly established themselves as a breeding population, they seemed to displace House Sparrows at my feed/water stations. Sparrows didn't disappear but the numbers went way down.
Fast forward to maybe early 2000s, and the two species had reached more of an equilibrium in my sphere of observation. Sometimes more of one, sometimes more of the other, but with House Finches holding perhaps a slight numerical advantage on an annual basis.
Fast forward again to the 2020s, and especially 2026, and the House Finch numbers have been overwhelmingly surpassed by House Sparrows. This winter I'd estimate at least 85% House Sparrows, and that might be an underestimation.
I'm wondering if there will "always" be this ebb and flow, back and forth? Have House Sparrows finally regained their permanent edge? Are House Finches more susceptible to avian influenza? Questions without answers yet.
Anyone else in KS seeing trends like these?
Dan Mulhern Manhattan
