LIX 



Savanna Spakrow; Ground Sparrow 

 542b. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna 



This migrant comes to visit with us for a few days 

 during late March and early April, then resumes its long 

 northward journey toward Hudson's Bay, where it finds 

 conditions suited to its choice for rearing its young, re- 

 turning south in September. It has not been known to 

 build its nest in Kansas or Missouri. It has the appear- 

 ance, in a general way, of the Sparrow family, with the 

 added feature of wing margins marked with yellow and 

 and a well-defined yellow streak over the eyes. (Fig. 92.) 



The Savanna Sparrow is fond of marshy ground and 

 hedge rows bordering the highways. In company with the 

 Harris Sparrows the Savannas are rather numerous in 

 the vicinity of Kansas City in April. They keep close to 

 the ground while resting, and even in flight they rarely 

 fly over a few feet from the earth; they are the most ter- 

 restrial in their habits of any of the Sparrows. Small 

 insects and fallen weed seeds enter into their diet list. 

 Their vocal ability is limited to a little twitter. They 

 are rather tame and permit a close approach. 



These Sparrows nest on the ground. The eggs num- 

 ber from four to five, and are of a grayish-green. 



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