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Pooecetes gramineus

(Gmelin, 1789)

Vesper Sparrow

G5Secure Found in 206 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). © Wentao Yang; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Wentao Yang; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). © Suzanne Labbé; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Suzanne Labbé; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). © Aidan Brubaker; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Aidan Brubaker; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). © Blair Dudeck; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Blair Dudeck; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). © Aaron Maizlish; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Aaron Maizlish; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus). © Grace C; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Grace C; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103115
Element CodeABPBX95010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyPasserellidae
GenusPooecetes
COSEWICPS:E
Other Common Names
Bruant vespéral (FR) Gorrión Cola Blanca (ES) vesper sparrow (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-04
Edition Date2009-03-19
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Large range in North America; large population size; major regional decline in eastern North America, due to reforestation, urbanization, and changing agricultural practices.
Range Extent Comments
Breeding range extends primarily from east-central and southern British Columbia eastward across southern Canada to Nova Scotia, and south to eastern and southern California, central Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Illinois, Tennessee, and North Carolina (Jones and Cornely 2002). Winter range extends across the southern United States from central California to South Carolina, and south to southern Baja California, southern Oaxaca, southern Tamaulipas, U.S. Gulf Coast, and Florida, with much smaller numbers wintering in areas farther north and south (Jones and Cornely 2002).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of populations.
Threat Impact Comments
Declines in eastern North America appear to be a result of (1) reforestation and urbanization of grasslands and (2) agriculture practices, such as removal of hedgerows and more frequent mowing and haying (Jones and Cornely 2002). This species readily nests in agricultural areas (given compatible practices) and does not require pristine conditions.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitats include plains, prairies, dry shrublands, savannas, weedy pastures, fields, sagebrush, arid scrub, and woodland clearings (AOU 1983). In Iowa, breeding territories were along fencerows between agricultural fields (Rodenhouse and Best 1994).

Nests are on the ground, often in a small depression near a clump of grass (Harrison 1978).

Ecology

In Iowa, average territory size was 2.34 ha (Rodenhouse and Best 1994).

Reproduction

In Iowa, began establishing territories in second week of April. Clutch size usually is 3-5, sometimes 6. Both sexes (usually female) may incubate eggs for 11-13 days. Young leave nest 7-12 days after hatching. Individual females generally produce 2-3 broods per year.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesertCropland/hedgerow
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
IowaS4B,S4NYes
North DakotaSNRBYes
MichiganS4Yes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
AlabamaS4NYes
VermontS2BYes
NevadaS3BYes
PennsylvaniaS2B,S3MYes
MississippiSNAYes
South CarolinaS3NYes
IndianaS4BYes
MontanaS5BYes
West VirginiaS2B,S2NYes
OklahomaSNRNYes
MinnesotaSNRBYes
IllinoisS5Yes
OhioS5Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
South DakotaS5BYes
New MexicoS4Yes
GeorgiaS4Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
WisconsinS2BYes
MaineS3BYes
ColoradoS5Yes
Rhode IslandSHB,S1NYes
MarylandS4Yes
DelawareS3B,S1NYes
MassachusettsS1B,S3NYes
TexasS5Yes
TennesseeS1B,S4NYes
New HampshireS2BYes
IdahoS5BYes
KentuckyS1BYes
MissouriSNRBYes
ConnecticutS1BYes
WashingtonS4BYes
ArizonaS3Yes
District of ColumbiaS3NYes
KansasS2BYes
FloridaSNRNYes
UtahS5B,S2NYes
New JerseyS1B,S3NYes
New YorkS3BYes
OregonS4BYes
ArkansasS3NYes
Navajo NationS5BYes
VirginiaS4Yes
LouisianaS4NYes
North CarolinaS2B,S2NYes
CanadaN5B
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickS2BYes
ManitobaS5BYes
SaskatchewanS5BYes
British ColumbiaS5BYes
QuebecS3BYes
OntarioS4BYes
Northwest TerritoriesSUYes
Nova ScotiaS1B,SUMYes
Prince Edward IslandS1BYes
AlbertaS5BYes
Roadless Areas (206)
Arizona (20)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Burro CanyonKaibab National Forest19,928
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
PipestemApache-Sitgreaves National Forests34,598
Red PointKaibab National Forest7,139
SalomeTonto National Forest2,932
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
SunsetApache-Sitgreaves National Forests28,948
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
California (35)
AreaForestAcres
Bear Camp FlatModoc National Forest2,471
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
BoulderKlamath National Forest435
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
Chineese Camp (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,339
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest19,631
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Hall Natural AreaInyo National Forest5,236
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Mt. OlsenInyo National Forest2,161
MuseKlamath National Forest238
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
ShacklefordKlamath National Forest1,679
Silver HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,423
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Snow MountainMendocino National Forest14,457
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Idaho (5)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Montana (17)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLolo National Forest118,485
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Big Horn MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest50,846
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Tash PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest61,312
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
Nevada (8)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Arc Dome - MahoganyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,208
Black SpringHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,016
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
New Mexico (7)
AreaForestAcres
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
CulpLincoln National Forest3,251
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
North Dakota (4)
AreaForestAcres
BlacktailDakota Prairie Grasslands8,620
Lone ButteDakota Prairie Grasslands11,465
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
WannaganDakota Prairie Grasslands6,026
Oregon (29)
AreaForestAcres
BearwallowsDeschutes National Forest7,317
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
Brattain ButteFremont National Forest5,959
Brown Mt.Winema National Forest3,117
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
ElkhornWillamette National Forest9,380
Frog CampWillamette National Forest491
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HuckleberryWillamette National Forest793
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
N. BoundaryWinema National Forest769
OdessaWinema National Forest146
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Sky Lakes BWinema National Forest9,615
Snake RiverWallowa-Whitman National Forest31,229
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Thirsty Creek AppendageUmpqua National Forest2,255
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
W. BoundaryWinema National Forest2,345
Waldo - KochWillamette National Forest245
Waldo - LakeWillamette National Forest2,993
Waldo - Salmon CreekWillamette National Forest3,195
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Utah (38)
AreaForestAcres
0401002Ashley National Forest36,113
0401007Ashley National Forest16,483
0401012Ashley National Forest46,400
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418013Uinta National Forest14,643
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418015Uinta National Forest17,289
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Bunker CreekDixie National Forest7,474
Dairy ForkManti-Lasal National Forest30,222
East MountainManti-Lasal National Forest30,705
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Fishlake MountainFishlake National Forest25,217
Happy ValleyDixie National Forest14,458
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Hilgard MountainFishlake National Forest28,389
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Little West Fork BlacksWasatch-Cache National Forest8,209
Long Neck Mesa / Steep Creek / Oak Creek - Steep Creek / OakDixie National Forest55,489
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mollens HollowWasatch-Cache National Forest17,690
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
Solomon BasinFishlake National Forest19,963
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Steves MountainFishlake National Forest22,649
Stump CreekCaribou National Forest355
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Vermont (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Washington (13)
AreaForestAcres
Asotin CreekUmatilla National Forest16,433
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Coal Creek BluffGifford Pinchot National Forest1,164
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Mill Creek Watershed (WA)Umatilla National Forest16,747
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Packwood LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest1,084
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
PompeyGifford Pinchot National Forest23,985
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
TumwaterGifford Pinchot National Forest8,676
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Wyoming (20)
AreaForestAcres
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Campbell LakeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,088
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Leigh CreekBighorn National Forest19,180
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South ForkShoshone National Forest64,903
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Trout CreekShoshone National Forest44,034
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Windy MountainShoshone National Forest31,283
References (27)
  1. Adams, J. S., et al. 1994. Survival and growth of nestling vesper sparrows exposed to experimental food reductions. Condor 96:739-748.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  4. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
  5. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  6. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  7. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  8. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  9. Jones, A.L., and P.D. Vickery. 1997. Conserving grassland birds: managing agricultural lands including hayfields, crop fields, and pastures for grassland birds. Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln, MA.
  10. Jones, H. L., P. Balderamos, J. Caulfield, A. Caulfield, G. Crawford, T. M. Donegan, E. McRae, M. Meadows, M. Muschamp, P. Saqui, V. Spek, J. Urbina, and B. Zimmer. 2002. Fourteen new bird species for Belize. Cotinga 17:33-42.
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  12. Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
  13. Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
  14. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
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  16. Peterson, R.T. 1990b. A field guide to western birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
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  18. Pylypec, B. 1991. Impacts of fire on bird populations in a fescue prairie. Can. Field-Nat. 105:346-349.
  19. Rich, T. D., C. J. Beardmore, H. Berlanga, P. J. Blancher, M.S.W. Bradstreet, G. S. Butcher, D. W. Demarest, E. H. Dunn, W. C. Hunter, E. E. Iñigo-Elias, A. M. Martell, A. O. Panjabi, D. N. Pashley, K. V. Rosenberg, C. M. Rustay, J. S. Wendt, T. C. Will. 2004. Partners in Flight North American landbird conservation plan. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Ithaca, NY. Online. Available: <u><http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/></u>
  20. Rodenhouse, N. L., and L. B. Best. 1983. Breeding ecology of vesper sparrows in corn and soybean fields. Am. Midl. Nat. 110:265-275.
  21. Rodenhouse, N. L., and L. B. Best. 1994. Foraging patterns of vesper sparrows (<i>Pooecetes gramineus</i>) breeding in cropland. Am. Midl. Nat. 131:196-206.
  22. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  23. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  24. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  25. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  26. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  27. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.