Vesper Sparrow
(Pooecetes gramineus)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Jukka Jantunen
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Vesper Sparrow is an abundant species, reaching its highest densities in the southern Prairie Provinces but is also found in suitable grassland and agricultural habitats across much of southern Canada. The Breeding Bird Survey shows that, on average, the national population has experienced a moderate decrease since 1970. However, the core of the population in the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region has shown little change since 1970. The affinis subspecies of southwestern British Columbia was assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Endangered and is limited to about five breeding pairs. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
COSEWIC (Canada)Endangered2006Vesper Sparrow affinis subspecies
SARA (Canada)Endangered2007Vesper Sparrow affinis subspecies
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2010 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaModerate DecreaseHigh
 

Population estimate

Canada5,000,000 to 50,000,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Short-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaModerate

Conservation and management

Likely more abundant today than before the European settlement period, this species has benefited from the conversion of forests in the east to agricultural land (Jones and Cornely 2002). The stable Prairie population may be related to increased planted cover (McMaster and Davis 2001) and to replacement of forest with agricultural land in parts of the west. Decreasing populations in some areas are likely the result of changes to farming practices and reversion of marginal farmlands to forestlands (Jones and Cornely 2002). The affinis subspecies has disappeared from some historic breeding locations, although it was likely never common in British Columbia (COSEWIC 2006g). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view available recovery documents, see the SARA Registry.

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Boreal Hardwood TransitionBoreal Hardwood Transition, sub-region and priority type: Ontario Region
Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence PlainLower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain, sub-region and priority type: Ontario Region
Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence PlainLower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain, sub-region and priority type: Quebec Region
 

References