Grasshopper Sparrow

Status Rare vagrant. It was first recorded on Seal Island, where one was collected by Charles R.K. Allen on 4 October 1964. It has been almost annual since, with about 50 occurrences involving some 170 birds. Only two birds have come in spring: one between 17 and 21 May 1977 on Seal Island and another carefully studied by Robert B. Dickie at Russell Lake, Dartmouth, on the unusual date of 20 June 1982. Most of our fall migrants have been on Seal Island; a few have occurred on the coast or on other islands of the Southwestern Shore. Apart from individuals on Brier Island on 31 August 1975 and at Matthews Lake, Shelburne County, on 29 August 1980, they have not appeared before late September (average 6 October, earliest 23 September).

Some remarkable counts have been made on Seal Island during migration peaks: 11 on 18 October 1974, 11 on 11 October 1976, and 9 on 13 October 1980. Although late migrants are not normally seen after November (average 26 October, latest 14 November), a straggler remained at Economy, Colchester County, 18 November-14 December 1972 and four later birds (two photographed) have been reported from Christmas Bird Counts (Broad Cove, Lunenburg County; Cape Breton Highlands National Park; and two on the Halifax East count).

Remarks This little sparrow from the United States and extreme southern Canada has nested in nearby southern Maine. It is distinctly flat-headed, with a prominent eye ring, a short tail and a generally buffy appearance. As this sparrow prefers to run or hide in the grass, it presents a challenge for discovery and identification.

The absence of earlier records and its recent regularity probably reflect increases in the numbers of skilled observers rather than an increase in vagrancy by the bird. In fact, it has greatly decreased in numbers as a breeding bird in the northeastern part of its range in recent years.