VESPEE SPAEEOW. 



540. Pooecetes gramineus. 6 inches. 



The chestnut shoulders and white outer tail feathers 

 distinguish this from any other of our sparrows. 

 . The name Vesper Sparrow is given this bird because 

 of its habit of tuning up along towards evening; it is 

 perhaps more often known as the "Bay-winged Spar- 

 row " or " Grass Finch. ' ' 



They are found chiefly in dry pastures or along 

 dusty roadsides, where they start from the ground in 

 front of us, their white tail feathers showing promi- 

 nently as they fly so that there will be no mistake as 

 to their identity. 



Song.-*-A clear, ascending series of whistles, given 

 from a fence post or bush top; call, a sharp chirp. 



Nest. Of grasses in weedy fields or pastures; four 

 or five whitish eggs marked and blotched with brown- 

 ish (.80x.60). 



Eange. Eastern N. A. from Virginia to southern 

 Canada; winters in southern U. S. The similar West- 

 ern Vesper Sparrow (confinis) is found from the Plains 

 to the Pacific coast ranges. 



