The Lark Sparrow {Chondestes grammacus) 



By W. Leon Wawson 



Synonym. — Quail-head. 



Description. — Adult: Head variegated black, white, and chestnut; lateral 

 head-stripes black in front, chestnut behind ; auriculars chestnut, bounded by rictal 

 and post-orbital black stripes ; narrow loral, and broader submalar black stripes ^ 

 malar, superciliary, and median stripes white, the two latter becoming buffy behind ; 

 upper parts huffish gray-brown, clearest on sides of neck, streaked by blackish 

 brown centers of feathers on middle back and scapulars, persisting as edging on 

 the fuscous wings and tail; tail-feathers, except middle pair, broadly tipped with 

 white ; below white, purest on throat and belly, washed with grayish buff on sides 

 and crissum, also obscurely across fore-breast, in which is situated a central black 

 spot. Length 6.25 (158.8) ; wing 3.39 (86.1) ; tail 2.62 (66.6) ; bill .46 (11.7). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; head variegated black, white, and chest- 

 nut; fan-shaped tail broadly tipped with white and conspicuous in flight (thus 

 easily distinguished from the Vesper Sparrow with square tail and lateral white 

 feathers). 



Nest, of grasses, lined with finer grass, rootlets and occasionally horse-hair, 

 on the ground or, rarely, in low bushes or trees. Eggs, 3-5, white, pinkish or 

 bluish white, spotted and scrawled in zigzags and scrolls with dark browns or 

 purplish blacks, chiefly at the larger end. Av. size, .82 x .65 (20.8 x 16.5). 



Range. — Southern Ontario, and Mississippi Valley region, from Ohio, Illinois 

 and Michigan to the Plains, south to southern Texas and northwestern Alabama. 

 Accidental near Atlantic Coast. 



Dusty roadsides, sunny pastures and areas of broken ground harbor this 

 plainly colored bird from the time of its late arrival in spring until the young are 

 ready to fly. As the heat of summer increases the birds retire to the seclusion 

 of sparsely wooded pastures or fence-row thickets. 



The males sing upon arrival, selecting for this purpose a station upon the 

 summit of some outlying tree. The song is best described in the words of Mr. 

 Ridgway who had ample opportunity to study it in Illinois and the extreme West, 

 and who has done more than anyone else to bring the bird into well-deserved 

 prominence. He says : "This song is composed of a series of chants, each sylla- 

 ble rich, loud and clear, interrupted with emotional trills. At the beginning the 

 song reminds one somewhat of that of the Indigo Bird (Passerina cyanea) but 

 the notes are louder and more metallic, and their delivery more vigorous. Though 

 seemingly hurried, it is one continuous gush of sprightly music; now gay, now 

 melodious, and then tender beyond description — the very expression of emotion. 

 At intervals the singer falters, as if exhausted by exertion, and his voice becomes 

 scarcely audible; but suddenly reviving in his joy, it is resumed in all its vigor, 

 until he appears to be really overcome by the effort." 



This bird more frequently than others is found singing in the middle of the 

 very hottest davs in summer. At such times his tremulous song comes to the ear 



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