Photo: Tim from Ithaca / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 25.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Pooecetes
- Species gramineus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.7 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Vesper Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Vesper Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) is a species of bird in the Passerellidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA w, n.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 25.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Vesper Sparrow?
The Vesper Sparrow is a small bird that weighs around 25.7 g.
Where does the Vesper Sparrow live?
The Vesper Sparrow is found across North America with a range covering NA w, n, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Vesper Sparrow belong to?
The Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Vesper Sparrow eat?
The Vesper Sparrow is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Vesper Sparrow migrate?
The Vesper Sparrow is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Vesper Sparrow endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Vesper Sparrow make?
1 real field recording of the Vesper Sparrow — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Vesper Sparrow's range?
The Vesper Sparrow has a mapped global range of about 6.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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