179 



Winter visitors in southern Canada, feeding on the weed-tops that 

 project from the snow in open fields and rarely perching in trees. A flock 

 alights in the weed-spotted snow and gradually works across it, the rear 

 of the flock rising up from time to time like a flurry of snow and pitching 

 ahead, the process being repeated until the whole field is covered. 



Genus Calcarius. Longspurs. 



536. Lapland Longspur. FR. LE PLECTROPHANE DE LAPONIE. Calcarius lap- 

 ponicus. L, 6-25. A gregarious, winter Sparrow frequenting open fields. Males, dark 

 brown above, sharply streaked with buff to crown of head, with a rufous collar across 

 back of neck; cheeks, throat, and bib black. Flanks streaked with black, brown, and 

 buff. White, below. Females and juveniles are similar, but with the black on the face 

 and throat replaced by suffusions of brown and buff or showing only vaguely in scattered 

 irregular feathers. The nail of the hind toe is greatly elongated as in the Horned Lark 

 (Figure 44b, p. 25). 



Distinctions. In habits the Longspur may be mistaken for the Snow Bunting, but 

 the sharply streaked back, lack of white on the wing, and the elongated hind claw are dis- 

 tinctive. The lack of ear-tufts, the absence of yellow on the throat, and the sparrow- 

 like bill will separate it from the Horned Lark. Large size, ground habit, and occurrence 

 in winter in flocks will distinguish the Longspur from any other Sparrow of similar 

 coloration. 



Field Marks. The lack of white masses on the wings will distinguish the Lapland 

 Longspur from the Snow Bunting, and the lack of ear-tufts or yellow throat from the 

 Horned Lark, the birds with which it is most likely to be confused in life. 



Distribution. A circumpolar species coming down into settled districts only in winter. 

 In America it breeds in high latitudes across the continent. 



SUBSPECIES. In the east, only one subspecies of Lapland Longspur, the Eastern 

 Longspur, the type form, ever occurs. 



Similar in habits to the Snowflake and often accompanying flocks 

 of Snowflakes and Horned Larks. 



Genus Pocecetes. Vesper Sparrow. 



540. Vesper Sparrow. GRASS FINCH. BAY-WINGED SPARROW. FR. LE PINSON 

 A. AILES BAIES. Pooecetes gramineus. L, 5-75. Plate XXXI A. A dull-coloured ground 

 Sparrow softly streaked with shades of brown, above; below, white, with suffused streaks 

 on the flanks, across the breast, and on the sides of throat. Shoulders, brownish rufous. 



Distinctions. The Vesper can be separated from other earth-coloured Sparrows 

 by its red-brown upper wing-coverts or shoulders, and the white on the outer tail 

 feathers. 



Field Marks. The Vesper Sparrow is easily mistaken for the Song Sparrow in life, 

 but the lack of the central breast spot caused by the aggregation of the streaks and the 

 presence of the white outer tail feathers visible in flight are distinctive. The Junco, 

 an evenly dark grey bird, is the only other comparable species having such a tail mark. 



Nesting. In grass on the ground in nest of grasses, rootlets, and hairs, finer grasses 

 within. 



Distribution. Distributed, as a species, over all temperate North America. Breed- 

 ing wherever found in Canada. 



SUBSPECIES. Though eastern and western subspecies of the Vesper Sparrow are 

 recognized, only the Eastern Vesper Sparrow, the type form, occurs in eastern Canada. 



The Vesper Sparrow is comparable with the Song Sparrow in its 

 habits, song, and general appearance. It is less a bird of the brush, how- 

 ever, and usually frequents the edges of fields, or where there is slight 

 cover as in the vicinity of ditches or roads. Its song is similar to that of 

 the Song Sparrow, but can be readily distinguished from it by the edu- 

 cated ear. 



