A slightly larger variety which is resident on the islands in its range.
Eggs like those of the preceding; laid from May to July.
[Illustration 334: Pine Siskin.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Snowflake.]
[Illustration: left hand border.]
Page 333
535. MCKAY'S SNOW BUNTING. _Pletrophenax hyperboreus._
Range.--Western Alaska; known to breed on Hall's Island.
This beautiful species is, in summer, entirely white except for the tips
of the primaries and a black spot on end of central tail feathers, thus
being very distinct from the preceding, which has the back and the wings
to a greater extent black, at this season. Their eggs probably very
closely resemble those of the last species.
536. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. _Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus._
Range.--Breeds in northern North America; winters south casually to New
York, Ohio and Oregon and occasionally farther.
These sparrow-like birds are 6.5 inches long and have a black crown,
cheeks and throat, and chestnut band on nape. Like the Snowflakes they
nest on the ground in moss, but the four to six eggs that they lay are
grayish, heavily mottled and blotched with chocolate brown; size .80 ×
.60.
536a. ALASKA LONGSPUR. _Calcarius lapponicus alascensis._
Range.--Northwest North America, breeding in Alaska; winter south to
Oregon. This sub-species is like the last but slightly paler. Eggs
indistinguishable.
[Illustration 335: Grayish.]
[Illustration: Norman W. Swayns. NEST AND EGGS OF GOLDFINCH.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 334
537. SMITH'S LONGSPUR. _Calcarius pictus._
Range.--Breeds in Hudson Bay and Mackenzie River districts and winters
south to Texas chiefly on the Plains.
This species is of the size of the last but is a rich buff color below,
and the other markings are very different. These birds together with the
next species are very common on the prairies in central United States in
winter. They nest on the ground like the preceding species but the nests
are scantily made of grasses and not warmly lined like those of the
last. The eggs are similar but paler; size .80 × .60. Data.--Herschell
Island, Arctic Ocean, June 10, 1901. Nest built in a tuft of grass; made
of fine roots and grass, lined with feathers.
538. CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR. _Calcarius ornatus._
Range.--Plains in the interior of North America, breeding from Kansas
north to Saskatchewan; very abundant in the Dakotas and Montana.
This handsome species in the breeding plumage has the throat white,
breast and belly black, and a chestnut collar on the nape. They are one
of the most abundant breeding birds on the prairies, nesting in hollows
on the ground either in the open or protected by a tuft of grass. The
nests are made of grasses and sometimes moss; three or four eggs laid in
June or July; white, blotched, lined and obscurely marked with brown and
purplish; size .75 x .55.
539. MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR. _Rhynchophanes mccowni._
Range.--Great Plains, breeding from Kansas to the Saskatchewan.
This Longspur which breeds in company with the preceding, throughout its
range, can be distinguished from it by the small black patch on the
breast, the black crown, and chestnut wing coverts. Their nesting habits
are the same, and at this season all the Longspurs have a sweet song
often uttered during flight, like that of the Bobolink. Their eggs are
of the same size and similarly marked as the last, but the ground color
is more gray or olive.
[Illustration: Smith's Longspur.]
[Illustration 336: Grayish.]
[Illustration: Chestnut-collared Longspur.]
[Illustration: Dull white.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 335
540. VESPER SPARROW. _Poœcetes gramineus gramineus._
Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from Virginia and Missouri north
to Manitoba and New Brunswick; winters in the southern half of the
United States.
A streaked grayish, buffy and white bird distinguished by its chestnut
shoulders and white outer tail feathers. They are abundant birds in
eastern fields where their loud piping whistle is known to many
frequenters of weedy pastures. They build on the ground, either in
grassy or cultivated fields, lining the hollow scantily with grasses.
Their four or five eggs are usually laid in May or June; they are dull
whitish, blotched and splashed with light brown and lavender tints; size
.80 × .60.
540a. WESTERN VESPER SPARROW. _Poœcetes gramineus confinis._
Range.--This paler variety is found in North America west of the Plains
and south of Saskatchewan.
Its nesting habits are like those of the preceding and the eggs are
indistinguishable.
540b. OREGON VESPER SPARROW. _Poœcetes gramineus affinis._
A browner variety found on the coast of Oregon and northern California.
Its nesting habits are like those of the eastern bird and the eggs
similar but averaging a trifle smaller.
* * * ENGLISH SPARROW. _Passer domesticus._
These birds, which were imported from Europe, have increased so rapidly
that they have overrun the cities and villages of the country and are
doing inestimable damage both by driving out native insect eating birds
and by their own destructiveness. They nest in all sorts of places but
preferably behind blinds, where their unsightly masses of straw protrude
from between the slats, and their droppings besmirch the buildings
below; they breed at all seasons of the year, eggs having often been
found in January, with several feet of snow on the ground and the
mercury below zero. The eggs number from four to eight in a set and from
four to eight sets a season; the eggs are whitish, spotted and blotched
with shades of gray and black. Size .88 × .60.
[Illustration 337: Whitish.]
[Illustration: McCown's Longspur.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Vesper Sparrow.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 336
[Illustration 338: A. R. Spaid.
NEST AND EGGS OF VESPER SPARROW.]
Page 337
541. IPSWICH SPARROW. _Passerculus princeps._
Range.--Breeds on Sable Island, off Nova Scotia; winters on coast of
South Atlantic States. This a large and pale colored form of the common
Savannah Sparrow. Its nesting habits are similar to those of the latter
and the eggs are marked the same but average larger. Size .80 × .60.
542. ALEUTIAN SAVANNAH SPARROW. _Passerculus sandwichensis
sandwichensis._
Range.--Breeds on the Alaskan coast; winters south to northern
California.
A streaked Sparrow like the next but with the yellow superciliary line
brighter and more extended. Its nesting habits are precisely like those
of the next variety which is common and well known; the eggs are
indistinguishable.
542a. SAVANNAH SPARROW. _Passerculus sandwichensis savanna._
Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Middle
States north to Labrador and the Hudson Bay region.
Similar to the last but with the superciliary line paler and the yellow
reduced to a spot on the lores. Their nests are hollows in the ground,
lined with grasses and generally concealed by tufts of grass or weeds.
Their three to five eggs vary greatly in markings from finely and evenly
dotted all over to very heavily blotched, the ground color being grayish
white. Size .75 × .55
542b. WESTERN SAVANNAH SPARROW. _Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus._
Range.--Western North America from Alaska to Mexico.
A slightly paler form whose nesting habits and eggs do not differ from
those of the last.
542c. BRYANT'S SPARROW. _Passerculus sandwichensis bryanti._
Range.--Salt marshes of California from San Francisco Bay south to
Mexico.
Slightly darker and brighter than the eastern Savannah Sparrow and with
a more slender bill. The eggs are not different from many specimens of
savanna; they are light greenish white heavily blotched with various
shades of brown and lavender. Size .75 × .55.
543. Belding's Sparrow. _Passerculus beldingi._
Range.--Pacific coast marshes of southern California and southward.
This species is similar to the last but darker and more heavily streaked
below. They breed abundantly in salt marshes, building their nests in
the grass or patches of seaweed barely above the water, and making them
of grass and weeds, lined with hair; the eggs are dull grayish white,
boldly splashed, spotted and clouded with brown and lavender. Size
.78 × .55.
[Illustration 339: Grayish White.]
[Illustration: Savannah Sparrow.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: Grayish white.]
[Illustration: 542b--543.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 338
544. LARGE-BILLED SPARROW. _Passerculus rostratus rostratus._
Range.--Coast of southern and Lower California.
Similar to the Savannah Sparrow but paler and grayer, without yellow
lores and a larger and stouter bill. They are common in salt marshes,
often in company with the last species and their nesting habits are
similar to and the eggs not distinguished with certainty from those of
the latter.
544a. SAN LUCAS SPARROW. _Passerculus rostratus guttatus._
Range.--Southern Lower California.
A slightly darker form of the preceding, having identical habits, and
probably, eggs.
544c. SAN BENITO SPARROW. _Passerculus rostratus sanctorum._
Range.--Breeds on San Benito Islands; winters in southern Lower
California.
The nesting habits and eggs of these very similar subspecies are
identical.
545. BAIRD'S SPARROW. _Ammodramus bairdi_.
Range.--Plains, breeding from northern United States to the
Saskatchewan; south in winter to the Mexican border.
These Sparrows breed abundantly on the plains of Dakota and northward,
placing their nest in hollows on the ground in fields and along road
sides. During June or July, they lay three to five dull whitish eggs,
blotched, splashed and spotted with light shades of brown and gray. Size
.80 × .60.
546. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. _Ammodramus savannarum australis._
Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to
Canada.
A stoutly built Sparrow marked on the upper parts peculiarly, like a
quail; nape grayish and chestnut. These birds are common in dry fields
and pastures, where their scarcely audible, grasshopper-like song is
heard during the heat of the day. Their nests are sunken in the ground
and
arched over so that they are very difficult to find, especially as the
bird will not flush until nearly trod upon. The four or five eggs, laid
in June, are white, specked with reddish brown. Size .72 × .55.
546a. WESTERN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. _Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus_
Range.--West of the Plains from British Columbia to Mexico.
Slightly paler than the last; has the same nesting habits; eggs
indistinguishable.
[Illustration 340: 544--544c.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Baird's Sparrow. Grasshopper Sparrow.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 339
[Illustration 341: C. A. Reed.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW ON NEST.]
Page 340
546b. FLORIDA GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. _Ammodramus savannarum floridanus._
Range.--Central Florida.
A local form, darker above and paler below than the common species. Eggs
not different in any particular.
547. HENSLOW'S SPARROW. _Passerherbulus henslowi henslowi._
Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding locally from Maryland
and Missouri north to Massachusetts and Minnesota.
This species is similar in form and marking to the last, but is olive
green on the nape, and the breast and sides are streaked with blackish.
Their nesting habits are very similar to those of the Grasshopper
Sparrow, the nests being difficult to find. The eggs are greenish white,
spotted with reddish brown. Size .75 × .55.
547a. WESTERN HENSLOW'S SPARROW. _Passerherbulus henslowi occidentalis._
Range.--A paler and very local form found in the Plains in South Dakota
and probably, adjoining states. Eggs not apt to differ from those of the
preceding.
548. LECONTE'S SPARROW. _Passerherbulus lecontei._
Range.--Great Plains, breeding from northern United States to
Assiniboia; winters south to Texas and the Gulf States.
A bird of more slender form than the preceding, and with a long,
graduated tail, the feathers of which are very narrow and pointed. They
nest on the ground in damp meadows, but the eggs are difficult to find
because the bird is flushed from the nest with great difficulty. The
eggs are white and are freely specked with brown. Size .70 × .52.
549. SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. _Passerherbulus caudacutus._
Range.--Breeds in marshes along the Atlantic coast from Maine to South
Carolina and winters farther south.
These birds are very common in nearly all the salt marshes of the coast,
nesting in the marsh grass. I have nearly always found their nests
attached to the coarse marsh grass a few inches above water at high
tide, and generally under apiece of drifted seaweed. The nests are made
of grasses, and the four or five eggs are whitish, thickly specked with
reddish brown. Size .75 × .55. The birds are hard to flush and then fly
but a few feet and quickly drop into the grass again.
[Illustration 342: White.]
[Illustration: Henslow's Sparrow. Leconte's Sparrow.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Sharp-tailed Sparrow.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 341
549.1. Nelson's Sparrow. _Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni._
Range.--Breeds in the fresh water marshes of the Mississippi valley from
Illinois to Manitoba.
This species is similar to the Sharp-tailed Finch but more buffy on the
breast and generally without streaks. The nesting habits are the same
and the eggs indistinguishable.
549.1a. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED SPARROW. _Passerherbulus nelsoni
subvirgatus._
Range.--Breeds in the marshes on the coast of New England and New
Brunswick; winters south to the South Atlantic States.
This paler variety of Nelson's Sparrow nests like the Sharp-tailed
species and the eggs are the same as those of that bird.
550. SEASIDE SPARROW. _Passerherbulus maritimus maritimus._
Range.--Atlantic coast, breeding from southern New England to Carolina
and wintering farther south.
This sharp-tailed Finch is uniform grayish above and light streaked with
dusky, below. They are very abundant in the breeding range, where they
nest in marshes in company with caudacutus. Their nests are the same as
those of that species and the eggs similar but slightly larger. Size .80
x .60. Data.--Smith Island, Va., May 20, 1900. Nest situated in tall
grass near shore; made of dried grass and seaweed. Collector, H. W.
Bailey.
All the members of this genus have a habit of fluttering out over the
water, and then gliding back to their perch on the grass, on set wings,
meanwhile uttering a strange rasping song. The nesting habits and eggs
of all the subspecies are precisely like those of this variety, and they
all occasionally arch their nests over, leaving an entrance on the side.
550a. SCOTT'S SEASIDE SPARROW. _Passerherbulus maritimus peninsulœ._
Range.--Coasts of Florida and north to South Carolina. Above blackish
streaked with brownish gray; below heavily streaked with black.
550b. TEXAS SEASIDE SPARROW. _Passerherbulus maritimus sennetti._
Range.--Coast of Texas. Similar to maritimus, but streaked above.
550c. LOUISIANA SEASIDE SPARROW. _Passerherbulus maritimus fisheri._
Range.--Gulf coast. This form is similar to peninsulœ, but darker and
more brownish.
[Illustration 343: Seaside Sparrow. Dusky Seaside Sparrow.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 342
550d. MACGILLIVRAY'S SEASIDE SPARROW. _Passerherbulus maritimus
macgillivrai._
Range.--Coast of South Carolina. Like fisheri but grayer.
551. DUSKY SEASIDE SPARROW. _Passerherbulus nigrescens._
Range.--Marshes of Indian River near Titusville, Florida.
This species is the darkest of the genus, both above and below, being
nearly black on the upperparts. Their habits are like those of the
others and the eggs are not likely to differ.
552. LARK SPARROW. _Chondestes grammacus grammacus._
Range.--Mississippi Valley from the Plains to Illinois and casually
farther east, and from Manitoba to Texas; winters in Mexico.
This handsome Sparrow has the sides of the crown and ear patches
chestnut, and the sides of the throat and a spot on the breast, black.
They are sweet singers and very welcome birds in their range, where they
are quite abundant. Their nests are generally placed on the ground in
the midst of or under a clump of weeds or tuft of grass, but sometimes
in bushes or even trees; they are made of grasses and weeds and the
eggs, which are usually laid in May, are white marked chiefly about the
large end with blackish zigzag lines and spots. Size .80 × .60.
552a. WESTERN LARK SPARROW. _Chondestes grammacus strigatus._
Range.--United States west of the Plains; breeds from British Columbia
to Mexico.
This paler and duller colored variety is common on the Pacific coast;
its habits and nests and eggs are like those of the last.
553. HARRIS'S SPARROW. _Zonotrichia querula._
Range.--Mississippi Valley, chiefly west, breeding in Manitoba and
Saskatchewan, the exact range being unknown.
Although the birds are abundant during migrations, they seem to suddenly
and strangely disappear during the breeding season. Supposed nests have
been found a few inches above the ground in clumps of grass, the eggs
being whitish, thickly spotted with shades of brown. Size .85 × .65.
[Illustration 344: Lark Sparrow.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: Whitish.]
[Illustration: Harris's Sparrow.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 343
554. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. _Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys._
Range.--North America breeding abundantly in Labrador and about Hudson
Bay, and casually in northern New England and in western United States
in the Rockies and Sierras.
Winters along our Mexican border and southward. A handsome species with
a broad white crown bordered on either side by black, and with a white
superciliary line and black lores; the underparts are uniform grayish
white. These birds appear to be nowhere as common as the White-throated
Sparrows with which they associate during migrations and in the breeding
grounds. They build on the ground, generally near the edges of woods or
in clearings, and lay from four to six eggs similar but larger, and with
as much variation in markings as those of the Song Sparrow; pale
greenish blue, spotted and splashed with reddish brown and grayish. Size
.90 × .65. Data.--Nachook, Labrador, June 10, 1897. Nest of fine grasses
on the ground in a clump of grass.
554a. GAMBEL'S SPARROW. _Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli._
Range.--Rocky Mountains and westward from Mexico to Alaska, breeding
chiefly north of the United States.
This bird is like the last but the lores are white. Its nesting habits
and eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the former.
554b. NUTTALL'S SPARROW. _Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli._
Range.--Pacific coast from British Columbia to Lower California.
Similar to the last but smaller and browner above; nests on the ground
or in bushes, the eggs not being distinguishable from those of the other
White-crowns.
557. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. _Zonotrichia coronata_.
Range.--Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska, breeding chiefly north of
our borders.
This species has the crown yellow, bordered by black on the sides. Their
habits are like those of the White-crowned Sparrows, they feeding upon
the ground among the dead leaves, and usually being found in flocks and
often accompanied by many of the last species. They nest upon the ground
or in low bushes, and in May or June lay three or four eggs very similar
to the last. Size .90 × .65.
[Illustration 345: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: White-crowned Sparrow.]
[Illustration: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: 554a--557.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 344
[Illustration 346: CHIPPING SPARROW.]
Page 345
558. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. _Zonotrichia albicollis._
Range.--North America east of the Plains and breeding from the northern
tier of states northward; winters from the Middle States southward.
To my mind this is the most beautiful of Sparrows, with its bright and
softly blended plumage and the pure white throat boldly contrasting with
its grayish breast and sides of the head; the lores are adorned with a
bright yellow spot. They are one of the most abundant of Sparrows in the
east during migrations and their musical piping whistle is heard from
hedge and wood. They nest most abundantly north of our borders, laying
their three or four eggs in grass lined hollows in the ground, or more
rarely in nests in bushes. The eggs are white or bluish white, thickly
spotted with several shades of brown. Size .85 × .62. They nest most
often in thickets or on the edge of swamps, in just such places as they
are met with on their migrations.
559. TREE SPARROW. _Spizella monticola monticola._
Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding north of the United
States to the Arctic coast, east of the Rockies; winters within the
United States.
A larger bird but somewhat resembling the common Chipping Sparrow, but
browner above, with a black spot on the breast and no black on the head.
They are quite hardy birds and winter in many of the northern states
where they may be found in flocks upon the snow, feeding on seeds of
protruding weeds. They breed very abundantly in Labrador and about
Hudson Bay, placing their green nests in hollows on the ground or moss;
their three or four eggs are greenish white, abundantly speckled all
over the surface with reddish brown. Size .80 × .55. Data.--Foothills of
Black Mountains, McKenzie River, Arctic America, June 13, 1899. Nest on
the ground under a tuft of grass on level plain; made of grasses and
moss and lined with feathers.
559a. WESTERN TREE SPARROW. _Spizella monticola ochracea._
Range.--North America west of the Plains, breeding in Alaska and
wintering to Mexico. A paler form of the last, the nesting habits and
eggs of which are the same.
560. CHIPPING SPARROW. _Spizella passerina passerina._
Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to the
interior of Canada and Newfoundland.
[Illustration 347: White.]
[Illustration: White-throated Sparrow.]
[Illustration: Greenish white.]
[Illustration: Tree Sparrow.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 346
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 grass 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 passerina arizonæ._
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.