The Bird Book Part 77

560. CHIPPING SPARROW. _Spizella pa.s.serina pa.s.serina._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to the interior of Canada and Newfoundland.

[Ill.u.s.tration 347: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White-throated Sparrow.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Tree Sparrow.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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As indicated by their name _socialis_, Chipping Sparrows are sociable birds not only with others of the bird tribe, but with man. In all localities that are not overrun with English Sparrows, you will find these confiding birds nesting in trees and shrubs in the yard and in vines from porches, while in orchards, nearly every tree has its tenant.

They are smaller birds than the last (5.5 in. long) and have the brown crown bordered by blackish and a black line through the eye. Their nests, which may be found at any height from the ground and in any kind of a tree or shrub, are made of fine gra.s.s and weed stems, lined with hair; their three to five eggs are a handsome greenish blue, sparingly specked chiefly about the large end with blackish brown and purplish.

Size .70 .52.

560a. WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW. _Spizella pa.s.serina arizonae._

Range.--Western North America, chiefly west of the Rockies, from Mexico to Alaska; winters in Mexico.

This variety is much duller colored than the last and has but little brown on the back; its nesting habits are the same and the eggs do not appear to differ in any respect from those of the eastern bird.

561. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. _Spizella pallida._

Range.--Interior of United States and Canada, from the Mississippi Valley to the Rockies, breeding from Iowa and Colorado northward; winters in Mexico.

These birds can best be described as like the Chipping Sparrow with the brown largely replaced with blackish. They breed quite abundantly in Manitoba and Minnesota, placing their nests on or near the ground, and making them of fine gra.s.ses. The eggs cannot be distinguished with certainty from those of the preceding but average a trifle smaller. Size .65 .50. Data.--Barnsley, Manitoba, May 24, 1900. Nest of gra.s.s stalks lined with fine gra.s.s, one foot above ground in tuft of gra.s.s.

562. BREWER'S SPARROW. _Spizella breweri._

Range.--Western United States from Mexico to British Columbia rarely and chiefly between the Rockies and the Sierras; most abundant in New Mexico and Arizona.

This bird is similar to the last but is paler and more finely streaked.

Their nesting habits are like those of pallida and the eggs are indistinguishable.

[Ill.u.s.tration 348: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 559a--560a.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 561--562--564.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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[Ill.u.s.tration 349: CHIPPING SPARROWS (The whole family).]

Page 348

563. Field Sparrow. _Spizella pusilla pusilla._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to southern Manitoba and Quebec; winters in the Gulf States.

These are abundant birds along roadsides, in thickets, or on dry sidehills, where they nest indifferently on the ground or in bushes, making their nests of gra.s.s and weed stems. They are the birds, whose high piping song is most frequently heard on hot sultry days in summer.

Their eggs are laid in May or June; they are pale bluish white, speckled and blotched with yellowish brown and grayish purple. Size .65 .50.

563a. WESTERN FIELD SPARROW. _Spizella pusilla arenacea._

Range.--Great Plains from Mexico to Montana, breeding in the northern half of its range and wintering in the southern.

A paler form of the last, whose general habits and eggs are the same as those of the eastern bird.

564. WORTHEN'S SPARROW. _Spizella wortheni._

Range.--Southern New Mexico southward through central Mexico.

This pale colored species is the size of the Field Sparrow but has no decided markings anywhere. It is a rare bird within our borders and uncommon anywhere. I am not able to find any material in regard to their eggs.

565. BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW. _Spizella atrogularis._

Range.--Mexican border of the United States and southward.

This slim-bodied, long-tailed species is grayish with a dusky streaked, reddish brown patch on the back and a black face, chin and throat. Their habits are similar to those of the Field Sparrow and their nests are made near the ground in bushes, but the eggs are plain bluish green, about like unmarked Chipping Sparrows' eggs. Size .65 .50.

566. WHITE-WINGED JUNCO. _Junco aikeni._

Range.--Breeds in the Black Hills of Dakota and Wyoming; winters in Colorado and casually to Kansas.

This species is like the next but larger and with the wings crossed by two white bars. Its habits are like those of the common Juncos, the nests are placed on the ground, concealed under overhanging rocks or tufts of gra.s.s, and the eggs are like those often seen of the Slate-colored Junco; 3 or 4 in number, pinkish white specked and spotted with light reddish brown. Size .75 .55.

[Ill.u.s.tration 350: Field Sparrow.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White-winged Junco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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567. SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis hyemalis._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding in the northern tier of states and northward; winters in southern United States.