THE TREE SPARROW OR WINTER CHIPPY 



Finch Family — Fringillidcs 



Length: A little over 6 inches; about the size of the English 

 sparrow. 



General Appearance: A small brown bird with a gray breast 

 that has an indistinct black spot in the center. 



Male and Female: Crown reddish-brown; a gray line over the 

 eye, a reddish-brown line back of eye; gray below 

 eye; a reddish-brown streak curving from bill; bill 

 short and thick ; back brown, streaked with black and 

 buff; wings dark brown, edged with white, and with 

 two white wing-bars; tail brown, slightly forked, 

 outer feathers edged with white; sides brownish, 

 other under parts white; the black spot in the center 

 of the breast, the identification mark. 



Notes: Cheerful twitters and chirps. 



Song: A sweet, gentle trill, very delightful to hear. 



Habitat: Fields, especially those bordered by bushes that can 

 be used as shelter at night and as a refuge from 

 enemies. 



Bange: Eastern North America. Breeds in northern and 

 central Canada; winters from southern Minnesota 

 and southeastern Canada to eastern Oklahoma, cen- 

 tral Arkansas, and South Carolina. 



THE TREE SPARROW 



When lordly Winter stalks abroad 



With trailing robes of snow. 

 That hide the lovely tender things 



His icy breath lays low; 

 When grasses, shrubs, and hardy weeds 



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