Field Sparrow

Status Uncommon vagrant, very rare in winter. Jones (1879), Downs (1888) and Hickman (1896) all asserted that it nested in the province. Although these assertions were probably based on misidentifications, it is difficult to determine which other species might have been involved because these authors list all the present-day breeding species as well. A report of "several" near Sydney on 8 June 1902 (Macoun and Macoun 1909) might be doubted. "Several" on Sable Island on 4 October 1902 (McLaren 1981a) and one near Yarmouth on 14 November 1907 (Allen 1916) are seasonally plausible. The bird was not noted again until 9 May 1954, when Evelyn Richardson found two on Bon Portage Island.

Since then it has occurred annually, with over 150 reports of almost 600 individuals: most on Seal Island, some on other frequently visited islands and a few distributed elsewhere in the province (only one on Cape Breton Island); many have been photographically documented. Because they are northeast of their breeding range, they are given vagrant status, although they come and go more regularly than some transient or summer-resident sparrows. About 100 birds have been seen in spring, with first sightings regular in April (average 2 May, earliest 7 April) and last sightings in June (average 20 May, latest 10 June). There are no records of summering birds, and earliest fall migrants usually do not appear until October (three individuals between 21 August and 5 September; average of all other reports 12 October, earliest 22 September). As many as 40 were seen on Seal Island on 18 October 1981. They are not generally seen after mid-November (average 30 October, latest 19 November), but there are six records of birds on Christmas Bird Counts; two were seen on 10 February 1974 at a feeder at Porters Lake, Halifax County; and one wintered until 24 April 1975 at a feeder in Lower Eel Brook, Yarmouth County (P. Dobson).

Remarks The Field Sparrow nests north to southwestern Quebec and southern New Brunswick, so its frequent occurrence here as a vagrant is not surprising. The rusty crown (streaked with gray in young and autumn adults) is shared by several other species. Its most distinctive field marks are its pinkish bill and its indistinctly marked face which, together with its eye ring, gives it a blank-faced appearance. It has a lovely song, which is occasionally heard here in spring.