Pennsylvania · Summer breeder

Vesper Sparrows in Pennsylvania

When vesper sparrows are present in Pennsylvania, when they nest, which native Pennsylvania plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.

New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus

Status in Pennsylvania: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1–3 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5a–7b

When to expect vesper sparrows in Pennsylvania

Vesper Sparrows are summer residents in Pennsylvania, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.

Nesting in Pennsylvania

Across Pennsylvania, vesper sparrows typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.

Vesper Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, sugar maple for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Pennsylvania plants that attract vesper sparrows

Of the regional native plants we track for Pennsylvania, these 8 provide food or cover vesper sparrows use:

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Fall seed.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Feeding vesper sparrows through the Pennsylvania year

Top foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
In Pennsylvania's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for vesper sparrows · Best feeder for vesper sparrows

Frequently asked

Are vesper sparrows in Pennsylvania year-round?

No. Vesper Sparrows are summer breeders in Pennsylvania and leave for the winter.

When do vesper sparrows nest in Pennsylvania?

Nesting in Pennsylvania typically runs May–July, with 1–3 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.

What native plants attract vesper sparrows in Pennsylvania?

New England aster, Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple are native plants in Pennsylvania that provide food or cover for vesper sparrows.

Other backyard birds in Pennsylvania

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Fox Sparrow American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Scarlet Tanager Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo White-eyed Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Snow Bunting Horned Lark Blue Grosbeak Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink Rock Pigeon

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.