FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC.: VESPER SPARROW 725 
adults but markings less sharply defined; back and scapulars broadly edged with 
huffy grayish, and underparts grayish white. 
Range. —Breeds in lower Canadian, Transition, and Upper Sonoran Zones from 
southeastern British Columbia, northeastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and 
Manitoba south to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona (rarely), and eastern California; 
winters from California, Arizona, and central Texas 
to southern Mexico and Lower California. 
State Records. —The Western Vesper Sparrow 
is a common breeder on the mesas especially from 
7,000 to 8,000 feet (Ligon), and in the open grassy 
parks of northern New Mexico south to Las Vegas 
(Mitchell), Santa Fe (Bailey), and Fort Wingate 
(Coucs and Hollister). [It was very abundant north¬ 
east of Mount Taylor, 7,000-8,000 feet, where fresh 
eggs were found, June 22, 1916, and almost fresh eggs, July 25, 1916, while at 
the same time young were flying (Ligon). At Lake Burford it was common 
and a nest with young was found, June 6, 1918 (Wetmore). In northern 
Santa Fc County it is common on the pinyon flats and in the cultivated 
fields, where fresh eggs were found, May 15-July 15 (Jensen, 1922).] It was found 
common at Taos, July 11, 1904 (Bailey), [June, 1919 (Ligon)], and was, of course, 
breeding. A young bird just able to fly freely was collected near Hopewell at 9,900 
feet, September 9, 1904 (Bailey)* [On June 29, 1919, several were noted on Hamil¬ 
ton Mesa at about 10,000 feet, where they apparently had nests or young (Ligon).] 
A single bird was taken, July 25, 1904, at 10,400 feet, on the Upper Pecos (Bailey), 
in similar open grassy country. A few birds were also seen, July 17-24,1905, about 
the lava fields of the Zuni Mountains near Agua Fria at 8,000 feet (Hollister). 
In fall migration the species ascends to timberline and one was taken, August 20, 
on Culebra Mountain, at 13,000 feet, near the edge of the willows (Bailey), and on 
September 17, 1903, at the upper edge of timbcrline, 12,000 feet, in the Taos Moun¬ 
tains. Near Koehler Junction it was common after August 31, 1913 (Kalmbach). 
During migration, it is abundant in southern New Mexico, both in the mountains to 
7,500 feet as at Beaver Lake, September, 1908 (Birdseye), and to the lowest valleys 
at Carlsbad, 3,500 feet, September 17, 1901 (Bailey). The height of fall migration 
is in September and October, and the birds have left the mountains by the last of 
October. In the valleys they remain later; one was seen, November 6, 1906, near 
Cactus Flat (Bailey); several, November 9-14, 1909, at 7,000 feet, near Lake Valley; 
and a few at Las Cruces, 4,000 feet, November 23-28, 1909 (Goldman). 
It does not winter abundantly in New Mexico, but a single bird was once noted 
on January 8 at Fort Webster (Henry), and a few are to be found at Silver City 
every winter month (Hunn). [A few were noted in December, 1916, on the Carls¬ 
bad Bird Reserve (Willett).] 
The first spring migrant was noted at Mesilla Park March 2, 1903 (Ford), at 
Silver City March 13, 1884 (Marsh), at Rinconada April 14, 1904 (Surber), and at 
Willis May 1, 1900 (Birtwell).—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —Sunken in the ground, thick rimmed, well cupped; made of grass. Eggs: 
4 to 6, greenish or brownish white, spotted and often blotched and streaked with 
reddish brown and lavender. 
Food. —About two-thirds vegetable matter and one-third animal, the vegetable 
consisting of grain (doubtless largely from stubble fields and roads), 11 per cent; 
grass seed, 16 per cent; and weed seed 42 per cent. The animal food is made up 
largely of beetles, a small cicada and grasshoppers. (July 28-October 24, 1913, in 
Colfax County, grasshoppers 70 per cent, Kalmbach). Dung beetles, ground 
Fig. 124. Tail of Vesper 
Sparrow 
