Sparrow Conservation - UPSC Key Notes & Top 15 MCQs
Urbanisation, sealed buildings, noise pollution, and harmful pesticides are major reasons for shrinking sparrow populations. As natural nesting spaces disappear, sparrows struggle to breed successfully. Conservation efforts such as nest boxes, biodiversity-friendly gardens, and reduced chemical use help restore safe spaces, food sources, and protective habitats essential for sparrow survival across cities and villages.
How the Topic Is Useful for UPSC & Other Exams - Sparrow Conservation
Sparrow conservation links ecology, biodiversity, climate adaptation, urban planning, and community involvement. It is relevant for UPSC Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs sections. Understanding their decline highlights human impacts on ecosystems. Exam questions may involve species protection, ecological indicators, sustainable living practices, and biodiversity conservation strategies across urban and rural landscapes.
Quick Revision Notes - Sparrow Conservation
Keyword Definitions (UPSC / SSC / RRB / SEBI / IBPS / NDA Exams)
- House Sparrow: A small, social bird commonly found near human homes and agricultural fields. Sparrows depend on insects, grains, and open nesting spaces. Their decline indicates habitat disturbances, changing food availability, and ecological imbalance caused by urbanisation and pesticide use.
- Urban Biodiversity: The variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms living within towns and cities. It includes birds like sparrows that adapt to human environments. High urban biodiversity supports ecological balance, pollination, natural pest control, and healthy green spaces.
- Habitat Loss: The destruction or alteration of natural living spaces due to construction, pollution, or agriculture. Habitat loss reduces food, shelter, and breeding sites for sparrows, contributing significantly to their population decline worldwide.
- Ecological Indicator Species: Species that reflect the health of ecosystems. Sparrows serve as indicators of environmental quality, food availability, and habitat conditions. Declining sparrow numbers warn of environmental degradation, pollution, and unsustainable human activities.
- Nesting Sites: Safe spaces where birds lay eggs and raise young. Sparrows prefer open cavities, rooftops, and small gaps in buildings. Modern construction reduces such spaces, increasing the need for artificial nest boxes to support sparrow breeding.
- Pesticide Impact: Harmful chemicals used in agriculture or households reduce insect populations, the primary food source for sparrow chicks. Pesticides also contaminate the environment, weakening sparrow immunity and reducing their reproductive success.
- Urban Heat Island Effect: A phenomenon where city temperatures are significantly warmer than surrounding areas due to concrete structures and reduced vegetation. Increased heat affects sparrow feeding behaviour, nesting comfort, and overall survival in urban regions.
- Community-Based Conservation: Local residents, schools, and groups actively participate in protecting sparrows through awareness, creating nest spaces, planting native vegetation, and reducing harmful practices. Community-led efforts help rebuild sparrow-friendly habitats and restore ecological balance.
- Food Availability: The presence of natural diet sources, such as insects, grains, and seeds required by sparrows. Decline in food availability due to pesticides and sealed urban surfaces affects sparrow health, breeding, and survival.
- Artificial Nest Boxes: Human-made nesting structures that provide safe breeding spaces for sparrows. These boxes compensate for disappearing natural cavities in modern buildings and increase breeding success where habitat loss is severe.
- Noise Pollution: Excessive sound from traffic, machines, or urban crowding, which disrupts sparrow communication, feeding behaviou,r and breeding patterns. High noise levels reduce chick survival by masking alarm calls and feeding signals.
Message to Students: Understanding sparrow conservation helps you appreciate urban ecology and human–nature interactions. Keep learning consistently, observe your surroundings, and relate every topic to sustainable living and biodiversity protection.
Multiple Choice Questions - Sparrow Conservation
🌿 STRAIGHT MCQs
a) Coral polyps
b) Grains and insects
c) Marine algae
d) Large mammals
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Sparrows survive on grains and insects, especially during breeding when chicks need protein-rich insects for healthy growth, making food availability vital for population stability. Answer: ba) Coral bleaching
b) Habitat loss
c) Ocean acidification
d) Arctic melting
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Habitat loss from sealed buildings, reduced nesting spaces and declining food sources has significantly contributed to shrinking sparrow populations in urban and semi-urban areas. Answer: ba) Urban biodiversity
b) Deep-sea ecosystems
c) Polar habitats
d) Desert winds
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Sparrows are crucial for urban biodiversity because they control insects, support food webs, and reflect environmental health in highly populated regions. Answer: aa) Availability of insects
b) Coral reefs
c) Glacier melting
d) Monsoon flooding
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Sparrow chicks require insects rich in proteins for healthy development; reduced insect availability due to pesticides strongly affects chick survival. Answer: aa) Building glass towers
b) Deepening rivers
c) Installing nest boxes
d) Increasing noise levels
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Nest boxes provide safe breeding spaces that modern buildings lack, supporting sparrows’ reproductive success and improving their chances of long-term survival in urban environments. Answer: c🌿 FILL IN THE BLANKS
a) Caves
b) Nesting sites
c) Waterfalls
d) Islands
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Traditional buildings once had open cavities suitable for nesting. Modern sealed structures eliminate these spaces, causing major declines in sparrow breeding success. Answer: ba) Insects
b) Clouds
c) Stones
d) Ice
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Pesticides kill insects, the primary protein source required for chick growth, directly affecting sparrow reproduction and chick survival rates. Answer: aa) Desert
b) Frozen
c) Plastic
d) Native
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Native vegetation supports diverse insects and seeds, providing suitable feeding grounds for sparrows and their young. Answer: da) Columba livia
b) Passer domesticus
c) Falco peregrinus
d) Grus antigone
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Passer domesticus is the scientific name, highlighting its close association with human settlements and adaptive behaviour. Answer: b🌿 STATEMENT-BASED MCQs
1. House sparrows depend heavily on insects during the breeding season.
2. Modern buildings reduce natural nesting spaces for sparrows.
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither
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Sparrow chicks need insects for rapid growth, and modern sealed buildings eliminate cavities needed for nesting. Both statements accurately explain major survival challenges. Answer: c1. Noise pollution disturbs sparrow communication and feeding patterns.
2. High noise levels increase chick survival.
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both
d) None
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Noise pollution masks alarm calls and feeding signals, reducing chick survival, making statement 1 correct while statement 2 is incorrect. Answer: a🌿 ASSERTION–REASON MCQs
Reason (R): Urban pesticide use reduces insect availability.
a) A and R true; R explains A
b) A and R true; R does not explain A
c) A true; R false
d) A false; R true
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Pesticides significantly reduce insects required for chick growth, clearly contributing to sparrow decline. Both statements are correct, and the reason explains the assertion. Answer: dReason (R): Native plants support insects essential for sparrow feeding.
a) A and R true; R explains A
b) A and R true; R does not explain A
c) A true; R false
d) Both false
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Native plants encourage insect diversity, improving sparrow feeding opportunities and chick nourishment. The reason correctly explains why sparrow-friendly gardens boost populations. Answer: a🌿 MATCHING MODEL MCQs
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| A. Pesticides | (i) Reduce insects |
| B. Noise Pollution | (ii) Provide breeding spaces |
| C. Nest Boxes | (iii) Disturbs communication |
| D. Native Plants | (iv) Support insects |
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Options: a) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv b) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii c) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii d) A-i, B-iii, C-ii, D-iv |
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Pesticides reduce insects, noise pollution hinders communication, nest boxes offer safe nesting sites and native plants support diverse insect life. Answer: d| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| A. House Sparrow | (i) Passer domesticus |
| B. Urbanisation | (ii) Sealed buildings |
| C. Insect Decline | (iii) Reduces chick survival |
| D. Biodiversity Gardens | (iv) Support wildlife |
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Options: a) A-i, B-iv, C-iii, D-ii b) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv c) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii d) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv |
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Sparrow’s scientific name is Passer domesticus, urbanisation seals buildings, insect decline affects chick survival and biodiversity gardens support wildlife. Answer: bFinal Message for Aspirants: Sparrow conservation teaches vital lessons about ecology, sustainable urban planning and human responsibility toward biodiversity. Keep learning, observe your surroundings and connect each topic with environmental ethics for stronger UPSC preparation.
Short Answer Questions (UPSC Mains) - Sparrow Conservation
1. Explain the ecological importance of sparrows in human-dominated landscapes.
Sparrows control insect populations, disperse seeds, and serve as ecological indicators of environmental health. Their presence reflects habitat quality, food availability, and urban biodiversity, making them crucial for maintaining balanced ecosystems in both rural and urban environments.
2. Discuss the major causes behind the decline of sparrows in India.
Key reasons include habitat loss, sealed buildings, reduced nesting spaces, pesticide-driven insect decline, noise pollution, and unsuitable urban architecture. These factors together disrupt sparrow breeding, feeding, and survival, causing widespread population reduction.
3. How do pesticide-driven insect declines affect sparrow populations?
Sparrow chicks depend on insects for protein-rich nutrition. Pesticide use sharply reduces insect availability, weakening chick growth, lowering reproductive success, and destabilising sparrow populations across agricultural and urban landscapes.
4. Why are sparrows considered ecological indicator species?
Sparrows respond quickly to environmental changes, pollution and habitat modifications. Their decline signals ecological imbalance, poor food availability, harmful urbanisation and collapsing biodiversity, making them reliable indicators for assessing ecosystem health.
5. Explain the role of community participation in sparrow conservation.
Local communities contribute by installing nest boxes, planting native vegetation, reducing chemical use, and raising awareness. Their involvement strengthens conservation outcomes and encourages sustainable, biodiversity-friendly practices within neighbourhoods and cities.
6. How does modern urban architecture impact sparrow nesting?
Modern buildings lack open crevices and cavities traditionally used by sparrows for nesting. Smooth, sealed surfaces prevent breeding opportunities, making artificial nest boxes essential for population recovery and long-term habitat support.
7. Describe how sparrow-friendly gardens support urban biodiversity.
Gardens with native plants attract diverse insects and provide food, shelter, and water sources. Such habitats support sparrows and other species, improving ecological balance and promoting sustainable urban biodiversity.
8. What conservation strategies can help restore sparrow populations?
Effective strategies include installing nest boxes, promoting native vegetation, reducing pesticide use, managing noise, creating biodiversity parks, and encouraging community-led monitoring to rebuild safe habitats for sparrows.
9. Explain the effect of noise pollution on sparrow breeding behaviour.
Noise pollution masks feeding calls, courtship songs, and alarm signals. This disrupts communication between adults and chicks, lowering feeding success and reducing overall reproductive efficiency in urban environments.
10. How can schools and students contribute to sparrow conservation?
Schools can install nest boxes, plant native gardens, monitor local sparrow populations, and conduct awareness campaigns. Students can observe behaviour, reduce harmful practices, and promote community involvement, supporting long-term conservation.
Additional Reading - Sparrow Conservation
If you are a nature lover and want to understand the environment around you, then you need to know about the sparrow. This small bird has been a comfortable resident of our homes, windows, and courtyards for years. People of all ages have a particular place in their hearts for it because of its charming chirping, gregarious nature, and innocence. But the sad thing is that today this lovely bird is rapidly disappearing. Through this article, you will be able to know everything in detail, from the identification of the sparrow, its life cycle, crises, and conservation measures to your role in saving it.
Sparrow-Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Species | House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) |
| Habitat | Urban areas, gardens, farmlands, and rooftops |
| Diet | Seeds, grains, small insects, crumbs from human food |
| Conservation Status | Declining in urban zones due to pollution and habitat loss |
| Importance | Controls insects, pollinates plants, indicator of urban biodiversity |
How to Identify a House-Sparrow?
A sparrow is a small, brown domestic bird called Passer domesticus in scientific language.
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It is about 14 to 16 centimeters long and weighs about 25 to 35 grams.
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The male sparrow has black spots on its body, dark brown wings, and a slightly white belly, while the female is a little dull.
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Its chirping is loud and rhythmic, which makes even the morning peace musical.
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It is a very social bird that likes to live in flocks and easily lives around humans.
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It builds its nest in the corners of the kitchen, the roofs of the house, and old trees, due to which it is considered very close to humans.
Where do sparrows live?
The natural habitat of sparrows is the roofs, walls, and trees of our cities and villages, but this bird is also found globally.
In Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, this bird is widespread in both urban and rural settings.
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In India, sparrows can be seen in every state, especially more so in North India.
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Sparrows are one of the few birds that prefer to live with humans, which is why they are also called 'domestic birds.'
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It prefers small plants, old houses, green trees, and agricultural fields where it can easily find food and water.
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Its permanent residence tendency makes it different from other migratory birds that change location according to the season.
Why are sparrows decreasing?
In the last few years, the number of sparrows has seen a huge decline due to many human activities.
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Waves emitted from mobile towers affect their navigation system, due to which they are unable to reach their nests.
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New designs of houses, such as damp-free and closed windows, prevent sparrows from building nests.
The primary food source for sparrows is insects, which are killed by excessive pesticide use.
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Deforestation and the lack of green spaces are rapidly destroying their natural habitat.
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Pollution and urbanization have badly affected their lifestyle, due to which their breeding has also decreased.
| Reason | Impact on Sparrows |
|---|---|
| Loss of Nesting Spaces | Modern buildings lack crevices and nooks where sparrows usually nest |
| Use of Pesticides | Pesticides reduce insect populations, which are essential food for chicks |
| Mobile Tower Radiation | High-frequency EM radiation is believed to affect sparrow reproduction and orientation |
| Pollution and Noise | Urban noise and air pollution disturb sparrow habitats and nesting behavior |
| Decline in Home Gardens | Fewer gardens mean fewer insects, seeds, and shelter for sparrows to thrive |
How to conserve sparrows?
Many efforts are being made by the government and non-government organizations to save sparrows.
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Many states of India have announced to celebrate March 20 as 'Sparrow Day'.
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People have been encouraged to install wooden or mud nests in homes by running a nest campaign.
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Urban gardening is being promoted so that sparrows can get enough greenery and insects.
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Awareness is being spread among children through environmental education in schools and colleges.
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Some municipalities are distributing free nests from door to door so that people can give them a safe place in their homes.
How do sparrows breed?
The life cycle of a sparrow is quite simple but attractive, which reflects its natural qualities.
Three to five eggs are laid by the female sparrow two to four times a year.
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It takes 10–14 days for the chicks to hatch from the eggs, which are taken care of by both parents.
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These chicks become flighty in about 20 days and start their lives.
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The average lifespan of a sparrow is 4 to 7 years, but in a safe environment, it can live up to 10 years.
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Sparrows live a collective life and always feel safe with their flock.
What can you do to save sparrows?
You can also contribute to sparrow conservation by taking many small but effective steps at your level.
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Put a small nest box on the balcony, window, or roof of the house so that the sparrows get a place to live.
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Keep a small bowl of water in summer so that sparrows and other birds can quench their thirst.
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Keep the environment balanced by using fewer pesticides and securing the food of sparrows.
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Plant and save trees in your neighborhood so that sparrows can get a natural habitat.
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Make children and neighbors aware so that a collective effort can be made, and the number of sparrows can increase.
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Conclusion
The sparrow is not just a bird but a symbol of our culture, environment, and childhood memories. If we do not take steps now, our future generations will only read about it in books. It is our collective responsibility to be aware and active in its conservation. Some small efforts can bring big changes—all you need to do is take the initiative to connect with nature.
Online Courses, Reference Books, & Websites
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