Vesper Sparrow

There is a Vesper Sparrow [Pooecetes gramineus] that is over-wintering at Notre Dame, north of Moncton, N.B.  This is unusual but the bird seems to be doing well.  It is at the home of a birder who has provided a favourable habitat and lots of food.  So, the chances of it making it through the winter are good.

Vesper Sparrow

The Birds of New Brunswick An Annotated List lists the Vesper Sparrow as a rare, summer resident and a migrant; casual in winter.  It states that the population is in decline mainly through loss of habitat which is cultivated and uncultivated fields, grassland and fallow fields adjacent to farmed areas.  Its range is across Canada, south through the United States and into Mexico.  It feeds on insects during the summer, spiders and other small invertebrates.  It eats mostly seeds in the winter.  It feeds mainly on the ground.  

The Vesper Sparrow is a  large sparrow, mainly streaked grayish brown in colour.  It has a long tail which shows white outer tail feathers mainly in flight.  It is pale underneath with fine streaking.  It has a prominent white eyering and sometimes shows a spot in the middle of its breast.  It has chestnut-coloured patches forward over its wings (lesser coverts) but these are often not visible.  It is similar to the Savannah Sparrow but the Savannah has a shorter tail with no white outer tail feathers and a much less distinct white eyering.

The name of the Vesper Sparrow suggests it sings only at night but it actually sings throughout the day like other sparrows.  Its song is similar to that of the Song Sparrow but is more musical and starts with two pairs of notes.  According to Thoreau, it sounds like, "here here there there quick quick quick or I'm gone".  Sibley describes it as "too too tee tee chidididididi swiswi-swiswiteew".

In the first picture below note the overall grayish brown colour and the streaking.

Vesper Sparrow

The photo below shows the chestnut brown patch in front of the wing.  This is not always visible.

Vesper Sparrow

In the photo below note the white outer tail feathers and the fine streaking on the sides.  The white eyering is distinctive.

Vesper Sparrow

This sparrow is a delight to see.  When May comes, look for it in over-grown fields near active farms or on the edges of blueberry fields.