Keeping the Doctor Away

Until a couple of years ago the house sparrows showed no interest in the apples I put out for the birds. Then, during a particularly cold spell, I saw a little hen closely watching the waxeyes feed from the apple. When they left she hopped up and tried a peck or two herself and found it much to her liking. Within a few days the apples were covered in a rowdy commotion of scrapping sparrows. Since then they have made short work of the apples I put out. This little male was lucky to get one to himself.

House sparrow, Passer domesticus.