The TREE BUNTING FINCH (_Spizella Canadensis_) is rather more than eight
inches long and eight inches across, the wing and tail each measuring
rather more than two inches. In the plumage of such birds as have
attained their full beauty, the top of the head is of a light reddish
brown; the mantle is of the same colour intermixed with black; the quills
greyish brown, bordered with yellow, and the wings surrounded by two
white lines; the chin, throat, and lower part of the neck are a light
grey, the breast and belly greyish white, shaded upon their sides with
yellowish brown, and marked with a deeper tint. A light grey stripe
passes over the eyes towards the back of the head; the iris is greyish
brown; the beak blackish brown upon the upper mandible and tip of lower
one, the remainder of the latter being yellow; the feet are of a deep
flesh colour. The female closely resembles her mate in plumage; but the
young are by no means so brightly tinted as the parent birds.
The Tree Bunting Finches are met with in large numbers throughout North
America, though they will not breed in every locality that they frequent,
the more northern portions being, we believe, preferred for that purpose.
Like most of their congeners, these birds pass the winter months in
flying about the country in company with Buntings and a variety of other
Finches, seeking food upon the hedges and trees, whose seeds constitute
their principal nourishment, and sheltering themselves during very severe
weather by creeping into such low bushes as are thickly surrounded with
long grass or dry plants, thus affording a defence against the keenness
of the wind. They generally arrive in the more southern States at the
commencement of winter, and gradually disappear as spring returns. The
breeding season is in May, and during that time they frequently attain a
power of song of which they are incapable when not inspired by the wish
to attract the attention of their mates, whose favour they endeavour to
win by alternately chirping and singing throughout the entire evening.
The day is spent in hopping about on the ground, and in the evening they
disport themselves with wonderful agility upon the branches of their
favourite trees. Their flight is rapid and undulating. The nest, which
is usually constructed against an upright branch or stem, is formed of
coarse grass, lined with slender fibres or hair. The brood consists of
from four to five eggs of a uniform dark blue. Shortly after the young
are fledged, the whole party attach themselves to a large flock of their
congeners, in whose society some few weeks are passed preparatory to
their winter migrations. The food of this species consists of a variety
of seeds, berries, and insects.