grass finch

American  

Or grassfinch

noun

1. any of several Australian weaverbirds, especially of the genus Poephila.

2. the vesper sparrow.

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Etymology

Origin of grass finch

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

And the young junco shows, in its striped appearance of breast and back, and the20 lateral white quills in the tail, its kinship to the grass finch or vesper sparrow.

From Project Gutenberg

How welcome, too, were the hearty music of the robin and the carol of the grass finch!

From Project Gutenberg

The grass finches, the vireos, the wrens, and the linnets have joined their voices to the chorus, and the bobolinks are loudest in their song.

From Project Gutenberg

What was especially interesting was that the lark had "singled out with affection" one of our native birds, and the one that most resembled its kind, namely, the vesper sparrow, or grass finch.

From Project Gutenberg

Wilson, I believe, calls him the grass finch, and was evidently unacquainted with his powers of song.

From Project Gutenberg