THE BIRD BOOK 



As indicated by their name sociaUs, Chipping Sparrows 

 are sociable birds not only with others of the bird tribe, but 

 with man. In all localities that are not overrun with Eng- 

 lish Sparrows, you will find these confiding birds nesting in 

 trees and shrubs in the yard and in vines from porches, 

 vhile in orchards, nearly every tree has its 

 tenant. They are smaller birds than the 

 last (5.5 in. long) and have the brown 

 crown bordered by blackish and a black 

 line through the eye. Their nests, which 

 may be found at any height from the 

 ground and in any kind of a tree or shrub, 

 are made of fine grass and weed stems, lin- 

 ed with hair; their three to five eggs are a handsome 

 greenish blue, sparingly specked chiefly about the large 

 end with blackish brown and purplish. Size .70 x .52. 



560a. Western Chipping Sparrow. Spizella 



passerina arizonce. 



Range. — Western North America, chiefly west of the 

 Rockies, from Mexico to Alaska; winters in Mexico. 



This variety is much duller colored than the last and 

 has but little brown on the back; its nesting habits are the same and the eggs 

 do not appear to differ in any respect from those of the eastern bird. 



Bluish while 



Bluish white 



561. Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida. 



Range. — Interior of United States and Canada, from the Mississippi Valley to 



the Rockies, breeding from Iowa and Colorado northward; winters in Mexico. - 

 These birds can best be described as like 

 the Chipping Sparrow with the brown large- 

 ly replaced with blackish. They breed quite 

 abundantly in Manitoba and Minnesota, plac- 

 ing their nests on or near the ground, and 

 making them of fine grasses. The eggs can- 

 not be distinguished with certainty from 

 those of the preceding but average a trifle 



smaller. Size .65 x .50. Data. — Barnsley, Manitoba, May 



24, 1900. Nest of grass stalks lined with fine grass, one 



foot above ground in tuft of grass. 



562. Brewer's Sparrow. Spizella breweri. 



Range. — Western United States from Mex- 

 ico to British Columbia rarely and chiefly 

 between the Rockies and the Sierras; most 

 abundant in New Mexico and Arizona. 



This bird is similar to the last but is paler 

 and more finely streaked. Their nesting 

 habits are like those of pallida and the eggs 

 are indistinguishable. 



Bluish white 



561—562—564 



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