Sparrows Steal Spotlight From Cliff Swallows

When is a swallow not a swallow? When it is a house sparrow.

The nest pictured on Page 1 of the Valley section (July 12) is indeed that of the cliff swallow; however, the birds in the photo are opportunistic, press-loving, photogenic house sparrows.

Unlike the migrant cliff swallow, which is a summer resident breeding bird in North America, the house sparrow is a non-native species that was introduced into North America from Europe. San Juan Capistrano has long laid claim to cliff swallows, but the truth is that they nest in appropriate locations all over North America.

JEAN BRANDT

Encino

Brandt is the editor of Western Tanager .