We all know some of the members of the Sparrow family, little gray and
brown birds, striped above and lighter underneath. They belong to the
Finch family, which is the largest of all the bird families. One-seventh
of all the birds belong to this family. Just think how many uncles and
cousins and aunts the little sparrows have! They are birds of the
ground, not birds of the trees, like the vireos. They only choose high
perches when they wish to rest or sing. We see them hunting for food in
the grassy meadows, or fresh-plowed field, or in the dusty road. They
usually make their nests in low bushes or on the ground and, as a rule,
they fly only short distances, and do not skim around just for the fun
of it, like the swallows.
There are over forty different kinds of sparrows in our country.
The English sparrows are found all over the world. They stay with us all
the year round. We ought to be friendly with them as we have such a good
chance to become acquainted. They certainly intend to be friendly with
us for they scarcely fly away at our approach. Mother Sparrow is a hard
worker, raising four broods every year. Just think how many children and
grand-children one sparrow can have! English sparrows are called
quarrelsome birds, and I believe it is true that they have driven away
many of the pretty bluebirds, but we sometimes think they are quarreling
when they are not. Have you ever noticed a crowd of sparrows following
one bird? I used to think that they were all quarreling with that one
bird; but no, they follow her because they admire and like her. Some
people scold a great deal about the harm that the sparrows do to the
fruit and grain. But think of the many insects that these birds eat in
one year! I believe they do more good than harm, don’t you?
The chipping sparrow often builds its nest in tall trees. This is the
only sparrow I know of, which builds its nest up high. This bird is
smaller than the English sparrow. It has a reddish-brown back and crown.
Did you ever hear its funny little song? It sounds like the buzzing of a
locust. It can call, chip! chip! too.
The field sparrow is about the same size as the chipping sparrow and its
head and back are of the same color. As can be guessed from its name, it
is fond of fields and meadows. The field sparrow sings very sweetly.
Then there is the fox sparrow, which is not only the largest of the
sparrows, but the finest singer. It comes about as early as the
bluebird. We often hear its sweet song in March. It is called the fox
sparrow, not because it is sly like the fox, but on account of its color
which is reddish like the fox’s fur.
The grasshopper sparrow is smaller than the English sparrow. It has a
cry which sounds like a grasshopper in the grass.
The song sparrow is one of the commonest of our birds, staying with us
nearly all the year. The name indicates to us that it has a sweet voice.
It begins to sing almost as early as the robin and will sing every hour
in the day and seems never to tire of singing. The song sparrow is about
the same size as the English sparrow.
Then there are the savanna sparrow and the seaside sparrow which are
fond of marshes, near the sea; and the white-crowned. This and the
white-throated sparrows are both fine singers and handsome birds. They
are larger than the English sparrow. The vesper sparrow has a fine
voice, singing late in the afternoon and evening. It is as fond of the
meadows as the field sparrow. The two birds are often taken for each
other, but if the vesper sparrow is watched when it flies, it will be
seen that it has white tail quills which the field sparrow does not
possess. Both are about the same size.
The winter chippy or tree sparrow is a winter bird, in the United States
appearing in the fall and flying away early in the spring. Its name
would indicate that it was fond of trees, but this is not the case, as
it is usually seen on the ground and even makes its nest there.
There are many other members of the sparrow family, but this is enough
for to-day. I hope that you will watch them and try to become acquainted
with all.
Narcisia Lewis.