- Vesper Sparrow
Taxobox
name = Vesper Sparrow
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia = Emberizidae
genus = "Pooecetes"
species = "P. gramineus"
binomial = "Pooecetes gramineus"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1789)The Vesper Sparrow, "Pooecetes gramineus", is a medium-sized sparrow. It is the only member of the genus "Pooecetes" (Baird1858 ).Adults have light brown upperparts and light underparts, both with darker streaking. They have a white eye ring and a long dark brown tail which shows white outer feathers in flight.
Their breeding habitat is open grassy areas across most of
North America . The nest is an open cup on the ground under a clump of grass.These birds migrate to the southern and central
United States andMexico .These birds forage on the ground, mainly eating insects and seeds. Outside of the nesting season, they often feed in small flocks.
The male sings from a higher perch, such as a shrub or fencepost, to indicate his ownership of the nesting territory. The musical song begins with two pairs of repeated whistled notes and ends in a series of trills, somewhat similar to that of the
Song Sparrow .This bird's numbers are declining in the eastern parts of its range due to habitat loss.
References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
External links
* [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5400id.html Vesper Sparrow - Pooecetes gramineus] - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Vesper_Sparrow.html Vesper Sparrow Species Account] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://www.sdakotabirds.com/species/vesper_sparrow_info.htm Vesper Sparrow Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds and Birding
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