The Vesper Sparrow is fairly abundant everywhere, and it is a singular circumstance that Bain does not mention it in his “Birds of P.E.I.,” 1891. Are we to suppose that this pleasing songster did not visit the Island in those days? It was listed in the 1915 Bulletin, and the late Mr. Ludlow Jenkins marked it as “common and increasing” in 1934. I examined and described a dead Vesper Sparrow, Sept.4 1944.

This bird gets its name from its habit of “tuning up” as evening closes in. “Song, a clear ascending series of whistle”’ — Reed’s Guide. It is otherwise known as the “Eay-winged Sparrow,” or the “Grass Finch.” The white outer feathers of the tall, best seen in flight, are the surest marks of distinction.

As for diet the birds and their nestlings consume large numbers of insects; while later they turn to a diet of weed seeds. They are thus exceedingly valuable to the farmer. There are, however, two great hindrances to their increase: first, they make their nests in meadows and fields, where the eggs and young are easy prey for predators; and second, since the increase of poison-sprays, caterpillars must often be poisonous to the nestlings as well as to the old birds.

The Vesper Sparrow Breeds from our latitude south to N. Carolina, and Nebraska and winter to Gulf Coast and Texas.

Eastern Vesper Sparrow. AOU, 540 “Common and increasing” (1934). Upper parts brownish gray streaked with black and a little buff; eye-ring white: wings with bright chestnut shoulders, and two dull wing-bars; tall with white outer feathers, next one to these broadly tipped white, the rest dusky. Breast and sides streaked black and buff; underparts white. Length of adult about 6/15 inches.

– Newsy Notes by Agricola, February 25th, 1950.

Source: Islandnewspapers.ca