How many years does a Sparrow live?

barrie2, May 30, 5:43am
We have them all year round but I noticed one with distinctive mark for 3 years now. I just wondered what average age was?
gpg58, May 30, 5:48am
lakeview3, May 30, 5:50am
I googled it and it said 3 years and another said 15. I was going to say 10?

My grandmother had a canary who lived about 12 years.
hound31, May 30, 8:23am
I love sparrows, it doesn't matter where you are, in the country or the heart of the city, they're always around.
starseeker, Jun 1, 2:24am
I think 3 is probably the longest, based on my observations. There are reports of 'pet' sparrows living much longer, in safety.
wasgonna, Jun 1, 7:36pm
Jack lasted for years. Sequel after sequel.
voyager4, Jun 1, 9:42pm
Not sure, but we had a Blackbird with a distinctive white spot on its wing which was around for more than 6 years.
tygertung, Jun 2, 3:08am
Maybe a lot of the sparrows are actually Dunnocks?

http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/dunnock
fortheloveofgod, Jun 4, 5:05am
Jack sparrow!
Actually laughed out loud.
Nice one Wasgonna
brightlights60, Jun 4, 6:16am
OP you made my day, I looked it up and other birds too. We have a massive 250 year old ribbonwood in our front yard. Its not protected (used to be but the council "lost" its tag and says they can't afford to add "new" trees). Anyway, its at the end of its lifespan and we have an arborist friend who looks after it and does work on it every year. Its a haven for all the local birdlife. We are on a main road coming into Christchurch and we have all sorts in there, in particular a blackbird or family of them that literally tell me when they are back in spring and sing in the evening. I used to think it couldn't be the same one all the time, but it most be. Its seems our blackbirds and common sparrows live a lot longer here than in UK. Must be the varied diet!
raewyn2, Jul 21, 10:59pm
Maximum 15 years (http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.-
nz/species/house-sparrow).