One of the first birds to return in the spring--migrates north early in
March--sometimes remains during winter--stays north as late as October
or November.
Domestic--generally preferring to live near the home of man.
Song--though short and always the same is in tone wonderfully
expressive of happiness, love, anger, or fear, as the case may be.
Black head--wings and tail brown--touches of white on throat--entire
breast a rusty red.--Female duller and paler in colouring, growing
almost as bright as the male in the autumn.
Food--principally insects and worms--does not disdain fruit, berries,
cherries, etc., but prefers insect food--a ravenous eater.
Nest--outer layer composed of sticks, coarse grasses, etc., seemingly
rather carelessly arranged--on this the rather large round nest is
woven with grasses--plastered with mud--lined with softer grasses.
Eggs--greenish blue--four in number--young have black spots on
breast--generally two broods reared in a season--sometimes three.