FAMILY FringiUidcB 



Western lark sparrow, Chondestes 

 552a . ^ 



grammaciis strigatus. 6.15 



Distribution: Western North America 

 from British Columbia and Manitoba south 

 over the United States to Mexico, and from 

 the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast. 



The western lark sparrow is common 

 throughout its range except west of the 

 Cascades where it is rare. It seems to be a 

 bird of the plains and semi-arid country 

 where it builds its nest on or near the ground. 

 It is a far more common bird in California 

 than farther north. Its striped head, brown 

 cheek patches and rounded white-bordered 

 tail are distinctive field marks. 



, Oregon vesper sparrow, Pooecetes 



gramineus affinis. 5.50 



Distribution: Pacific Coast district from 



British Columbia south through western 



Washington and Oregon. South in winter 



to southern California and northern Mexico. 



The western vesper sparrow, its near relative, 



is found in western North America from 



Canada to Mexico (except Pacific Coast 



district), and east to the Mississippi Valley. 



The "sparrows" are always difficult for 



the amateur to identify because of their 



similarity in appearance. They are brown- 



80 



