_Fringilla passerina_, WILSON, Am. Orn. III, 1811, 76, pl. xxvi, f.
5.—AUD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 180; V, 497, pl. cxxx. _Fringilla
(Spiza) passerina_, BON. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 111. _Coturniculus
passerina_, BON. List, 1838.—IB. Conspectus, 1850, 481.—BAIRD,
Birds N. Am. 1858, 450.—SAMUELS, 305. _Emberiza passerina_, AUD.
Syn. 1839.—IB. Birds Am. III, 1841, 73, pl. clxii. _Fringilla
savanarum_, (GM.) NUTTALL, Man. I, 1832, 494.—IB. (2d ed.) 1840,
570.—(GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 921?) _?? Fringilla caudacuta_,
LATH. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 459.—NUTT. Man. I, 1832, 505. _?
Passerina pratensis_, VIEILLOT. _Coturniculus tixicrus_, GOSSE.
LOCALITIES: Oaxaca, March (SCL. 1859, 379). Guatemala (SCL. Ibis, I,
18). Cuba (winter, common, CAB. Journ. IV, 7). Costa Rica (CAB.
Journ. VIII, 1860, 411; LAWR. IX, 103). Vera Cruz (winter, SUM.
Mem. Bost. Soc. I, 552).
SP. CHAR. Feathers of the upper parts brownish-rufous or
chestnut-brown, margined narrowly and abruptly with ash-color; reddest
on the lower part of the back and rump; the feathers all abruptly
black in the central portion; this color visible on the interscapular
region, where the rufous is more restricted. Crown blackish, with a
central and superciliary stripe of yellowish tinged with brown,
brightest in front of the eye. Bend of the wing bright yellow; lesser
coverts tinged with greenish-yellow. Quills and tail-feathers edged
with whitish; tertiaries much variegated. Lower parts brownish-yellow
or buff, nearly white on the middle of the belly, darkest on the
jugulum. The feathers of the upper breast and sides of the body with
obsoletely darker centres, these sometimes wanting. Sides of breast
against bend of wing with a few black streaks, usually concealed.
Length about 5 inches; wing, 2.40; tail, 2.00.
HAB. Eastern United States; south to Guatemala; Jamaica, resident;
Porto Rico.
The young of this species have the jugulum and sides of the breast
streaked with black, much more distinct than in the adult, and
exhibiting a slight resemblance to _C. henslowi_. The upper parts are
less varied.
Specimens from the Far West have the bill more slender, the reddish of
the back considerably paler, the dark markings of the back restricted,
the light stripe on the head with scarcely any yellow, a decided spot
in front of the eye quite yellow, and little or no ochraceous on the
breast.
The young bird, with streaked jugulum, may be most readily
distinguished from _C. henslowi_ by the grayer plumage without any
shade of chestnut or greenish-yellow, the sparseness of streaks on the
side, the absence of the two mandibular dusky stripes, and the broad
dusky centres of the middle tail-feathers.
Quite a fine series of specimens from Jamaica and other West India
Islands affords ample material to judge of the validity of the _C.
tixicrus_ of Gosse. It is scarcely possible to distinguish these
Jamaican specimens from examples from the Eastern Province of the
United States, though minute differences are observable. Their size is
somewhat smaller, but they are resident in the region where obtained;
and the shades of color are just appreciably darker. There are,
however, no differences sufficient to justify retaining the name
_tixicrus_, to designate even a variety.
All the specimens in the collection from Mexico and Guatemala are in
the autumnal or winter dress, so that it is probable that they are not
resident there; they appear to be identical with North American
specimens, and referrible to the variety _passerinus_ as restricted.
Between summer and winter specimens great differences are observable;
in the former season the edges of the feathers become worn, so that
often the chestnut spots disappear entirely, while the other markings
become poorly defined, leaving the black blotches predominant.
HABITS. The common Yellow-winged Sparrow appears to be a bird of
irregular and unequal distribution, found in certain localities in
great abundance, and not seen in the intervening districts. According
to some writers, it is partial to sandy places near the sea, and this
is certainly true of the neighborhood of New York City, and also of a
large portion of the New Jersey coast. It is likewise the case in
certain portions of Eastern Massachusetts, as, according to Mr.
Maynard, this species is very numerous in Nantucket, where it breeds
abundantly. I have never met with this Sparrow in Massachusetts,
except in a single instance, near Boston, nor in any collections of
eggs have I seen any that I supposed could be those of this species;
yet in the western part of the State, according to Mr. Allen, it is an
abundant summer visitant, arriving there about the first week in May,
and leaving early in September, breeding in dry fields and pastures,
and raising two broods in a season. According to Mr. Boardman, it is
an occasional visitant in the neighborhood of Calais, yet rare;
arriving there the first of April, five weeks earlier than it shows
itself in Springfield. Yet that this bird has ever been met with
between Boston and Calais does not appear. It was not seen in Western
Maine by Professor Verrill.
In the vicinity of Hartford, Conn., this bird appears also to be a not
uncommon summer resident. In 1860, I received from Mr. T. S. Brandigee
several nests found in that neighborhood. They were all constructed on
the ground, in a field of thin grass, and their tops were all nearly
covered over.
Dr. Heermann states that he found this bird a not uncommon species, in
the summer season, near San Antonio; and Mr. Dresser also procured a
specimen there in the early summer. Dr. Lincecum mentions it as a
common resident in Washington County, in the same State. He describes
it as a close-hiding Grass Sparrow, running on the ground in the
manner of a mouse, and never seen to alight on trees. Dr. Coues speaks
of it as a resident species in South Carolina, especially abundant
during the period of migration.
It has been found quite common, during the winter months, in Central
America, specimens having been procured there by Señor Constancia, Mr.
Skinner, and Dr. Van Patten. It was also found at Oaxaca, Mexico, by
Mr. Boucard.
Mr. Nuttall and Mr. Audubon speak of it as occurring in Oregon, but
Dr. Cooper did not meet with it on the Pacific coast. Dr. Kennerly
obtained a single specimen on one of the forks of the Colorado, in
February. Mr. Ridgway met with the western form of this species, in
suitable places, in the Sacramento Valley and the Great Basin, and
proposes for it the name of _perpallidus_.
In the vicinity of Newark, N. J., I have found this species apparently
one of the most abundant in that neighborhood, having obtained there
in the month of June more eggs of this than of any other species.
In Northfield, Ill., near the lake shore, Mr. Robert Kennicott met
with the nests of these birds in great abundance. From these facts I
infer that it is not necessarily or exclusively a bird of the
sea-shore, but that in certain favorable localities it is as abundant
in the interior as on the coast, and that at intervals it may be met
with from Texas to Maine, and from the Atlantic to the interior,
nearly or quite to the Pacific coast.
In Jamaica, Mr. March states, this species is not uncommon in the
savannas and grass lands near Spanish Town. It is a resident in that
island, and breeds there in considerable numbers, nesting in tufts of
grass-roots. It is only common in certain localities.
I have never heard its note to know it. Wilson speaks of it as a
short, weak, interrupted chirp. According to Mr. Ridgway, it bears a
close resemblance to the note of a grasshopper. Nuttall says they sing
in an agreeable voice, something like that of the Purple Finch, though
less vigorously; and Audubon characterizes it as an unmusical ditty,
composed of a few notes weakly enunciated at intervals.
It is terrestrial in its habits, living, nesting, and feeding on or
near the ground. It subsists on larvæ, insects, and the seeds of
grasses and small weeds.
This bird builds its nest on the ground, usually in a small tuft of
grass or in a cluster of plants. It is made of dry grasses, and is
lined with fine bent and horsehair. The young are said to follow their
parents for a short time, but soon separate, and learn to take care of
themselves. This species is not gregarious, and is never seen in
flocks, not even when just about to migrate.
Wilson and Nuttall describe the eggs as grayish-white, sprinkled with
brown. Audubon says they are dingy-white, sprinkled with brown spots.
This is not accurate. The ground-color is a clear crystalline white,
beautifully dashed and marbled with bold markings of an almost golden
brown. These spots vary in size, are often quite large, and
occasionally make a corona about the larger end. The eggs are of a
rounded oval, almost spherical, shape, measuring .75 by .63 of an inch.
Coturniculus passerinus, var. perpallidus, RIDGWAY.