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Montana Animal Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Vesper Sparrow - Pooecetes gramineus

  • Vesper Sparrow
  • Vesper Sparrow
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Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S5B

Agency Status
USFWS: none
USFS: none
BLM: none
CFWCS Tier: 3
PIF: none
 

General Description
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General Distribution
Montana Range



Western Hemisphere Range

 


Summary of Observations Submitted for Montana
Number of Observations: 13863

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

Breeding
(direct evidence "B")

Breeding
(indirect evidence "b")

No evidence of Breeding
(transient "t")

Overwintering
(regular observations "W")

Overwintering
(at least one obs. "w")


 

(Records associated with a range of dates are excluded from time charts)



Migration
In the Bozeman area, normal migration periods are April 23 to May 20 and September 10 to 23 (Skaar 1969).

Habitat
In central Montana they nest on the ground under big sagebrush, but concealment of the nest is not greatly important (Best 1970). They are found in areas where vegetation was short and dense, with a high percentage of cover (Reed 1984).

Food Habits
In central Montana, 70-90% of food was animal (mostly Coleopterans), while 3 to 23% was plant (mostly grass seeds) in areas grazed 2 years before and sprayed with chemicals (Best 1970).

Ecology
In central Montana, an average of 24 breeding pairs per 100 acres was found (U68FEI01). Territories associated with the less preferred tall and patchy vegetation are larger than territories in preferred vegetation (Reed 1984).

Reproductive Characteristics
In central Montana, the average clutch size was 3.25. Near Fortine, full clutch dates range from May 30 to July 25. Statewide, nesting is from late May to late August (probably 2nd broods) (Davis 1961).

Additional Sources of Information Related to "Birds"
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Citation for data on this website:
Vesper Sparrow — Pooecetes gramineus.  Montana Field Guide.  Retrieved on February 9, 2010, from http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/detail_ABPBX95010.aspx
 
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