Vesper Sparrows are the only nesting sparrows of the open, low valleys of Washington that display white outer tail feathers in … Vesper Sparrows have relatively long tails, when compared to Savannahs. Photos and recordings of the Vesper Sparrow can be found at the Macaulay Library. Vesper Sparrows are a medium-large sparrow approximately 15 cm long. The bird that I’m depicting here possesses those characteristics. This behavior offers an advantage for the birder who can then see the white outer tail feathers as the bird flies away. The oldest recorded Vesper Sparrow was a male, and at least 7 years, 1 month old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Colorado. Vesper Sparrow Identification Vesper Sparrows are a medium-large sparrow approximately 15 cm long. It is woven out of grasses and lined with fine grasses, feathers, and hair. They are grayish brown above and buffy below with brown streaks. Indeed, this bird gives me fits at times, because it very closely resembles another common sparrow species, the Savannah Sparrow. In this post I will use Song Sparrow as the baseline and compare species to it. Jones, S.L. The species epithet is gramineus, from the Latin for covered with grass. As settlers to North America cut down forests for farmland in the 19th Century, the Vesper Sparrow was abundant in the east. Web Works. Savannah Sparrows are grassland birds that breed in the Northern half of the United States (along with Canada) and then winter in the Southern half of the United States. At least to me, the Vesper Sparrow is an excellent example of one of those hard to identify species. Scan tops of shrubs and fence posts for a perched sparrow in full song. Pooecetes gramineus A rather chunky sparrow of the open fields, known at all seasons by its streaked appearance and its white outer tail feathers. Your information will not be shared with any third party. Although its most characteristic feature is a small chestnut patch on the shoulder, it's often hidden from view. I’m fairly confident that the individual I’m featuring here is a Vesper and not a Savannah. Vesper Sparrows are seasonal (fall/winter) migrants in southern Arizona. Pairs commonly raise 2 broods per season. Also note the thin white eyering and rufous shoulder (often hidden). Vesper Sparrows are often detected by their melodious song. It can be distinguished from the song sparrow by larger size, shorter tail, and paler coloration. ( Log Out /  Ironically, the loss of sagebrush habitat has aided Vesper Sparrow, which will replace Brewer’s and Sagebrush Sparrows as sagebrush is removed. Many birders might say this sounds like many of the sparrows we know, but upon a closer look the Vesper Sparrow provides an opportunity to focus on some finer details of birds that are useful in identifying many sparrows. Research is needed to evaluate management practices that could increase habitat. This subspecies is restricted to agricultural fields, grasslands, and savannah habitats west of the Cascade Mountains. Vesper Sparrow Description, range, habitat, songs and calls, identification tips, and behavior. Advancing bird & habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships, Klamath Bird Observatory541-201-0866PO Box 758Ashland, Oregon 97520, KBO is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization. The vesper sparrow was likely uncommon in Eastern North America prior to European settlement. ( Log Out /  There are five species of sparrows that include Savannah, Vesper, Fox, Song, and Lincoln's that look similar, at least superficially. As its name suggests, it frequently sings in the twilight of vespers—a sweet series of musical slurs and trills. The Vesper Sparrow is the only species in the genus Pooecetes, from the Greek for grass dwelling; poe, grass, and oiketes, dweller. The Oregon Vesper Sparrow subspecies cannot be determined by plumage or vocalization, but by geographic range. © var year = new Date();document.write(year.getFullYear()); Klamath Bird Observatory. They have a narrow white eye-ring, white outer tail feathers, and a rufous shoulder patch. Young hatch almost featherless and are tended to by both the male and female parents. Sign up with your email address to receive the latest news and information about upcoming events. Learn how your comment data is processed. The male often takes over feeding completely when the female starts the second brood. Site developed and hosted by Rogue This time of year they can be found throughout the southern United States. Vesper Sparrow . In fact, that is how they got their name. This time of year I encounter these sparrows as often or more often than I encounter any other sparrow species. Today, I’m featuring yet another sparrow species, the Vesper Sparrow. This species is unique in that it requires patches of bare ground within its breeding territory, making severely disturbed habitats such as reclaimed mines, overgrazed pasture, and row crops potentially suitable. Indeed, this bird gives me fits at times, because it very closely resembles another common sparrow species, the Savannah Sparrow. If the nest is threatened, the female will fly away as if to distract the intruder and lure it away from the nest. Individual sparrow species are becoming increasingly more difficult to identify as as I continue to post their images. The vesper sparrow is a large to medium-sized grassland bird that is named for its tendency to sing just before dusk. The Vesper Sparrow is the only member of its taxonomic genus—. The vesper sparrow is a stocky, short-tailed, grayish-brown sparrow with a streaked breast. It seeks beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, moths, and some spiders. This little brown job (LBJ) might be a bit easier to see than its other LBJ friends. Vespers is also the name of the canonical hour for evening prayer. The Vesper Sparrow nests on the ground in a slight depression near a grass clump, weed, or shrub (Kaufman). It is grayish-brown above and whitish below with dark blackish-brown streaking. Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). This streaky brown sparrow has a thin white eyering and flashes white tail feathers in flight; two features unique to the Vesper Sparrow. A remnant population continues in the remaining area of the South Sound Prairies, following decades of suitable habitat being destroyed by development, invasion of scotch broom, and expansion of forests resulting from fire control (Wahl, Tweit, & Mlodinow). We respect your privacy. Vesper Sparrows prefer grasslands and open areas. However, Vesper Sparrow is in danger of extirpation in Western Washington. Vesper refers to the evening when this bird can be heard singing. Species Account Number 624. All rights reserved. The vesper sparrow is an early spring migrant with males arriving in New York in late March and females arriving within a week of the males. The breast is grayish white and streaked with black. They are grayish brown above and buffy below with brown streaks. They love to congregate in flocks, sometimes fairly large flocks, along roadsides and ditches, foraging in weeds and brushy vegetation. That they are so common does not render them any less charming. Large, drab, streaky sparrow of grasslands, second growth, and bare ground. 2002. A brown cheek patch, which reaches behind the eye, is adjacent to a white stripe that extends down from the bill. A lot of sparrow species are only subtly different in appearance from other sparrow species. The species epithet is gramineus, from the Latin for covered with grass. Generally speaking, it prefers habitat that has some shrubs, even very short ones of only a few inches, which the male uses as a perch for singing to mark territory. Vesper refers to the evening when this bird can be heard singing. In winter it relies on finding the seeds of many weeds. These include prescribed burns, livestock grazing, and mine reclamation. Cornely. Vesper Sparrow Identification Vesper Sparrows are a medium-large sparrow approximately 15 cm long. The Vesper Sparrow forages almost exclusively on the ground in open areas of grasslands and weeds among short shrubs and patchy grass. They have a narrow white eye-ring, white outer tail feathers, and a rufous shoulder patch.

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