Vesper Sparrow 429433 216366070 2008-06-01T09:05:48Z 124.244.248.234 {{stub}} {{Taxobox | name = Vesper Sparrow | status = LC | image = VesperSparrow23.jpg | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[bird|Aves]] | ordo = [[Passeriformes]] | familia = [[American sparrow|Emberizidae]] | genus = '''''Pooecetes''''' | species = '''''P. gramineus''''' | binomial = ''Pooecetes gramineus'' | binomial_authority = ([[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|Gmelin]], 1789) }} The '''Vesper Sparrow''', ''Pooecetes gramineus'', is a medium-sized [[American sparrow|sparrow]]. It is the only member of the genus ''Pooecetes'' ([[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]] [[1858]]). 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 [[bird migration|migrate]] to the southern and central [[United States]] and [[Mexico]]. 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== * {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=53571|title=Pooecetes gramineus|downloaded=12 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern ==External links==<!-- WilsonBull18:47 (compare to current Ohio checklist http://www.ohiobirds.org/publications/OBRClist.pdf) --> *[http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5400id.html Vesper Sparrow - <i>Pooecetes gramineus</i>] - 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 <!-- ==Further reading== <div class="reflist4" style="height: 220px; overflow: auto; padding: 3px" > ===Book=== * Jones, S. L., and J. E. Cornely. 2002. ''Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)''. In ''The Birds of North America'', No. 624 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. ===Thesis=== * Castrale JS. Ph.D. (1981). ''USE OF MANAGED SAGEBRUSH GRASSLANDS BY BIRD POPULATIONS''. Brigham Young University, United States -- Utah. * Kirkpatrick CK. M.S. (1999). ''Trends in grassland bird abundance following prescribed burning in southern Arizona''. The University of Arizona, United States -- Arizona. * Klippenstine DR. M.Sc. (2005). ''Can egg mimicry by Brown-headed Cowbirds explain the acceptance of brood parasitism by grassland passerines?''. University of Manitoba (Canada), Canada. * Krueger HO. M.S. (1981). ''BREEDING ADAPTATIONS OF THE VESPER SPARROW (POOECETES GRAMINEUS) IN A FIRE-ALTERED ECOSYSTEM''. Central Michigan University, United States -- Michigan. * McIntyre KK. M.S. (2003). ''Species composition and beta diversity of avian communities along a burned/unburned gradient in sagebrush steppe habitat at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada''. Sul Ross State University, United States -- Texas. * Petersen KL. Ph.D. (1986). ''AVIAN ECOLOGICAL STUDIES IN A SAGEBRUSH COMMUNITY: BIRD RESPONSES TO FIRE AND TERRITORY DYNAMICS IN A SPARROW POPULATION (IDAHO)''. Iowa State University, United States -- Iowa. * Randell SM. M.S. (1996). ''A study of avian populations and behavior at a proposed wind energy production facility near Fort Davis, Texas''. Sul Ross State University, United States -- Texas. * Vickery PD. Ph.D. (1993). ''Habitat selection of grassland birds in Maine''. The University of Maine, United States -- Maine. ===Articles=== * Adams JS, Knight RL, McEwen LC & George TL. (1994). ''Survival and growth of nestling Vesper Sparrows exposed to experimental food reductions''. Condor. vol '''96''', no 3. p. 739-748. * Best LB & Rodenhouse NL. (1984). ''Territory Preference of Vesper Sparrows Pooecetes-Gramineus in Cropland''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''96''', no 1. p. 72-82. * Bledsoe AH. (1988). ''Nuclear DNA Evolution and Phylogeny of the New World Nine-Primaried Oscines''. Auk. vol '''105''', no 3. p. 504-515. * Bock CE & Bock JH. (1992). ''Response of Birds to Wildfire in Native Versus Exotic Arizona Grassland''. Southwestern Naturalist. vol '''37''', no 1. p. 73-81. * Bock CE, Bock JH & Bennett BC. (1995). ''The avifauna of remnant tallgrass prairie near Boulder, Colorado''. Prairie Naturalist. vol '''27''', no 3. p. 147-157. * Boutin C, Freemark KE & Kirk DA. (1999). ''Farmland birds in southern Ontario: Field use, activity patterns and vulnerability to pesticide use''. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment. p. 22, 1999. * Camp M & Best LB. (1993). ''Bird abundance and species richness in roadsides adjacent to Iowa rowcrop fields''. Wildlife Society Bulletin. vol '''21''', no 3. p. 315-325. * Camp M & Best LB. (1994). ''Nest density and nesting success of birds in roadsides adjacent to rowcrop fields''. American Midland Naturalist. vol '''131''', no 2. p. 347-358. * Carson RJ & Spicer GS. (2003). ''A phylogenetic analysis of the emberizid sparrows based on three mitochondrial genes''. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution. vol '''29''', no 1. p. 43-57. * Castrale JS. (1982). ''Effects of 2 Sagebrush Artemisia-Spp Control Methods on Nongame Birds''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''46''', no 4. p. 945-952. * Cosens SE & Falls JB. (1984). ''A Comparison of Sound Propagation and Song Frequency in Temperate Marsh and Grassland Habitats''. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology. vol '''15''', no 3. p. 161-170. * Davis MA, Peterson DW, Reich PB, Crozier M, Query T, Mitchell E, Huntington J & Bazakas P. (2000). ''Restoring savanna using fire: Impact on the breeding bird community''. Restoration Ecology. vol '''8''', no 1. p. 30-40. * Falardeau G & Desgranges JL. (1991). ''Habitat Preferences and Recent Fluctuations in Populations of Farmland Birds in Quebec''. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol '''105''', no 4. p. 469-482. * Flickinger EL, White DH, Mitchell CA & Lamont TG. (1984). ''Monocrotophos and Dicrotophos Residues in Birds as a Result of Misuse of Organophosphates in Matagorda County Texas USA''. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. vol '''67''', no 4. p. 827-828. * George TL, Fowler AC, Knight RL & McEwen LC. (1992). ''Impacts of a Severe Drought on Grassland Birds in Western North Dakota''. Ecological Applications. vol '''2''', no 3. p. 275-284. * Gordon CE. (2000). ''Movement patterns of wintering grassland sparrows in Arizona''. Auk. vol '''117''', no 3. p. 748-759. * Grant TA, Madden EM, Shaffer TL, Pietz PJ, Berkey GB & Kadrmas NJ. (2006). ''Nest survival of clay-colored and vesper sparrows in relation to woodland edge in mixed-grass prairies''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''70''', no 3. p. 691-701. * Grant TA, Shaffer TL, Madden EM & Pietz PJ. (2005). ''Time-specific variation in passerine nest survival: New insights into old questions''. Auk. vol '''122''', no 2. p. 661-672. * Haire SL, Bock CE, Cade BS & Bennett BC. (2000). ''The role of landscape and habitat characteristics in limiting abundance of grassland nesting songbirds in an urban open space''. Landscape & Urban Planning. vol '''48''', no 1-2. p. 65-82. * Ingelfinger F & Anderson S. (2004). ''Passerine response to roads associated with natural gas extraction in a sagebrush steppe habitat''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''64''', no 3. p. 385-395. * Jobin B, DesGranges JL & Boutin C. (1998). ''Farmland habitat use by breeding birds in southern Quebec''. Canadian Field-Naturalist. vol '''112''', no 4. p. 611-618. * Johnson OW & Ohmart RD. (1973). ''The Renal Medulla and Water Economy in Vesper Sparrows Pooecetes-Gramineus''. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology A. vol '''44''', no 2. p. 655-661. * Jones ZF & Bock CE. (2002). ''Conservation of grassland birds in an urbanizing landscape: A historical perspective''. Condor. vol '''104''', no 3. p. 643-651. * Kerley LL & Anderson SH. (1995). ''Songbird responses to sagebrush removal in a high elevation sagebrush steppe ecosystem''. Prairie Naturalist. vol '''27''', no 3. p. 129-146. * Kirkpatrick C, DeStefano S, Mannan RW & Lloyd J. (2002). ''Trends in abundance of grassland birds following a spring prescribed burn in southern Arizona''. Southwestern Naturalist. vol '''47''', no 2. p. 282-292. * Knapton RW & Mineau P. (1995). ''Effects of granular formulations of terbufos and fonofos applied to cornfields on mortality and reproductive success of songbirds''. Ecotoxicology. vol '''4''', no 2. p. 138-153. * McMaster DG, Devries JH & Davis SK. (2005). ''Grassland birds nesting in haylands of southern Saskatchewan: Landscape influences and conservation priorities''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''69''', no 1. p. 211-221. * Miller SG, Knight RL & Miller CK. (2001). ''Wildlife responses to pedestrians and dogs''. Wildlife Society Bulletin. vol '''29''', no 1. p. 124-132. * Noson AC, Schmitz RA & Miller RF. (2006). ''Influence of fire and Juniper encroachment on birds in high-elevation sagebrush steppe''. Western North American Naturalist. vol '''66''', no 3. p. 343-353. * Ohmart RD & Smith EL. (1971). ''Water Deprivation and Use of Sodium Chloride Solutions by Vesper Sparrows Pooecetes-Gramineus''. Condor. vol '''73''', no 3. p. 364-366. * Patterson MP & Best LB. (1996). ''Bird abundance and nesting success in Iowa CRP fields: The importance of vegetation structure and composition''. American Midland Naturalist. vol '''135''', no 1. p. 153-167. * Peer BD, Robinson SK & Herkert JR. (2000). ''Egg rejection by cowbird hosts in grasslands''. Auk. vol '''117''', no 4. p. 892-901. * Perritt JE & Best LB. (1989). ''Effects of Weather on the Breeding Ecology of Vesper Sparrows in Iowa USA Crop Fields''. American Midland Naturalist. vol '''121''', no 2. p. 355-360. * Pulliam HR & Mills GS. (1977). ''The Use of Space by Wintering Sparrows''. Ecology. vol '''58''', no 6. p. 1393-1399. * Pylypec B. (1991). ''Impacts of Fire on Bird Populations in a Fescue Prairie''. Canadian Field Naturalist. vol '''105''', no 3. p. 346-349. * Reed JM. (1985). ''A Comparison of the Flush and Spot-Map Methods for Estimating the Size of Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes-Gramineus Territories''. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol '''56''', no 2. p. 131-137. * Reed JM. (1986). ''Vegetation Structure and Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes-Gramineus''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''98''', no 1. p. 144-147. * Ritchie TL. (1980). ''2 Mid Pleistocene Avi Faunas from Coleman Florida USA''. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum Biological Sciences. vol '''26''', no 1. p. 1-36. * Ritchison G. (1981). ''Variation in the Songs of Vesper Sparrows Pooecetes-Gramineus''. American Midland Naturalist. vol '''106''', no 2. p. 392-398. * Rodenhouse NL & Best LB. (1983). ''Breeding Ecology of Vesper Sparrows Pooecetes-Gramineus in Corn and Soybean Fields''. American Midland Naturalist. vol '''110''', no 2. p. 265-275. * Rodenhouse NL & Best LB. (1994). ''Foraging patterns of vesper sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) breeding in cropland''. American Midland Naturalist. vol '''131''', no 1. p. 196-206. * Rumble MA. (1987). ''Avian Use of Scoria Rock Outcrops''. Great Basin Naturalist. vol '''47''', no 4. p. 625-630. * Saveraid EH, Debinski DM, Kindscher K & Jakubauskas ME. (2001). ''A comparison of satellite data and landscape variables in predicting bird species occurrences in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, USA''. Landscape Ecology. vol '''16''', no 1. p. 71-83. * Schaid TA, Uresk DW, Tucker WL & Linder RL. (1983). ''Effects of Surface Mining on the Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes-Gramineus in the Northern Great Plains USA''. Journal of Range Management. vol '''36''', no 4. p. 500-503. * Schroeder MH. (1972). ''Vesper Sparrow Nests Abandoned after Snow''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''84''', no 1. p. 98-99. * Sedgwick JA. (1987). ''Avian Habitat Relationships in Pinyon-Juniper Woodland''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''99''', no 3. p. 413-431. * Stallman HR & Best LB. (1996). ''Bird use of an experimental strip intercropping system in northeast Iowa''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''60''', no 2. p. 354-362. * Stallman HR & Best LB. (1996). ''Use of an experimental strip intercropping system in northeast Iowa''. Journal of Wildlife Management. vol '''60''', no 2. p. 354-362. * Swain SD. (1987). ''Overnight Changes in Circulating Energy Substrate Concentrations in the Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes-Gramineus''. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology A. vol '''86''', no 3. p. 439-442. * Swanson DA. (1996). ''Nesting ecology and nesting habitat requirements of Ohio's grassland-nesting birds: A literature review''. Ohio Fish & Wildlife Report. vol '''0''', no 13. p. 3-60. * Sykes AK & Hannon SJ. (2001). ''Fencerows as habitat for birds in an agricultural landscape in central Alberta, Canada''. Ecoscience. vol '''8''', no 4. p. 441-449. * Vickery PD, Hunter ML, Jr. & Wells JV. (1992). ''Is density an indicator of breeding success?''. Auk. vol '''109''', no 4. p. 706-710. * Vickery PD, Zuckerberg B, Jones AL, Shriver WG & Weik AP. (2005). ''Influence of fire and other anthropogenic practices on grassland and shrubland birds in New England''. Studies in Avian Biology. vol '''30''', p. 139-146. * Wells JV & Vickery PD. (1994). ''Extended flight-songs of vesper sparrows''. Wilson Bulletin. vol '''106''', no 4. p. 696-702. * Wiens JA & Rotenberry JT. (1985). ''Response of Breeding Passerine Birds to Rangeland Alteration in a North American Shrubsteppe Locality''. Journal of Applied Ecology. vol '''22''', no 3. p. 655-668. * Wilson SD & Belcher JW. (1989). ''Plant and Bird Communities of Native Prairie and Introduced Eurasian Vegetation in Manitoba Canada''. Conservation Biology. vol '''3''', no 1. p. 39-44. * Wray T, II, Strait KA & Whitmore RC. (1982). ''Reproductive Success of Grassland Sparrows on a Reclaimed Surface Mine in West-Virginia USA''. Auk. vol '''99''', no 1. p. 157-164. {{stub}} * Wray T, II & Whitmore RC. (1979). ''Effects of Vegetation on Nesting Success of Vesper Sparrows Pooecetes-Gramineus''. Auk. vol '''96''', no 4. p. 802-805. </div> --> [[Category:Pooecetes]] [[Category:Genera of birds]] [[fr:Bruant vespéral]] [[pl:Nieszporek trawny]]