FAMILY Fringimd<B 



United States, west to the mountains of 

 eastern Washington and Oregon. A dozen 

 other sub-species are found in California and 

 the Southwest. 



The rusty song sparrow, in common with 

 others of the genus, lives on or near the 

 ground in thickets of brush and vines, in the 

 tangle of fallen logs and ferns along woods 

 roads and in the shrubbery' and garden patch 

 about the home. It is everywhere one of the 

 familiar birds with brown-streaked plumage, 

 and nervous wren-like action. It is a p>er- 

 manent resident wherever found for it is able 

 to find a living in the coldest weather and 

 imder the worst conditions. Its food consists 

 of insects and weed seeds. In the winter it 

 may be seen picking at the thistles and cockle 

 burrs that are sticking up through the snow, 

 all the while calling to its fellows in a chee^^^ 

 manner, and if the sun breaks through the 

 winter sky but for a moment, burst iog iato 

 song. Its nest is placed m. some tangle of 

 vines or brush near the ground. 



^^ ^ To wnsend fox sparrow, Pa-sserella Uiaca 



toinuendi. 6.70 



Distribution: Breeds on Alaska i>eninsula 



and islands and migrates south along the 



Pacific Coast to southern California. Several 



78 



