Red Fox Sparrow Nominate subspecies Passerella iliaca iliaca Family Passerellidae Shirley's Bay, Ottawa, Ontario 26 October 2008
Vesper Sparrow Nominate subspecies Pooecetes gramineus gramineus Family Passerellidae Near the Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa, Ontario 29 June 2008 Vesper sparrows get their names from their tendency to sing at dusk. The song is a very lyrical tune, and it has a way of blending into the background of the evening chorus. This particular individual is showing "worn" plumage - vesper sparrows are unique among sparrows in that they only moult once a year, so by the end of the summer their plumage is a little worse for wear. A freshly moulted adult would have more subtle browns and tans. Either way, I find vesper sparrows to be very beautiful in a unique way.
Grasshopper Sparrow "Eastern" subspecies Ammodramus savannarum pratensis Family Passerellidae Near the Ottawa International Airport, Ottawa, Ontario 6 June 2008