Why do sparrows steal nesting material from robins potential nest??

[a kennedy]

The robins that nest next to our home have started making the nest for this season, and the sparrows that are setting up nests in our pine tree are stealing all the nesting material the robins have started using to set up their nest. So funny to see. It usually takes a good week to 10 days for the robins to get their nest all squared away and now because the sparrows have taken all the stuff, it might take the robins longer to make their nest. I just love Spring and all the signs of a new season of life. edit for grammar.

[LiberalEsto]

1. Because the sparrows are moochers?

[a kennedy]

2. ha ha, never thought of that.....

[femmocrat]

3. Sparrows are opportunistic birds.

They will also take over a bluebird nest after the bluebirds have done all the work. One of the reasons I took down my bluebird nesting box.

[a kennedy]

5. and I always thought sparrows were such cute birds.....

not anymore.

[kurtzapril4]

8. Sparrows also kill bluebirds

in the nestboxes. They peck their eyes out. They're very aggressive non-native birds.

[nolabear]

4. Sparrows shcmarrows. You oughta see what cowbirds do.

They don't build nests at all. They just lay their eggs in other birds' nests and their big, aggressive babies dominate the nestmates and often just shove them out altogether.

It's sorta like Meta.

[a kennedy]

6. My husband said blackbirds do the same thing, use other bird nests to lay eggs....

wow, such things I learn here on DU. edit for grammar

[2theleft]

7. I made a wreath for my front door...

About two weeks ago. Hung it up. Day one, sparrows start building a nest. For the longest time, it didn't seem like it was going to work as the pieces would just fall down to the porch...Went out of town for work, came home, full nest, and eggs. Babies hatched yesterday. The wreath is hanging over the glass portion of my front door, so I get to see the activities from inside the house. I'm loving it. I will try to take a picture...hard to do from the inside as the glass is kind of etched so it comes out blurry...don't want to get too close outside and stress out the mom.

[vanlassie]

9. Sparrows are little bastards. But hilarious

when drunk on berries.

[ohiosmith]

10. Sparrows are the avian equivalent of republicans.

[johnsolaris]

11. sparrows are nasty

Hi,
I have seen sparrows steal newly hatched birds out of nest & drop them several hundred yards away from the nest just to take over that nest & the surrounding area. Nature is a dangerous place.