Notes on the Plumage of North American Sparrows 



NINTH PAPER 



By FRANK M. CHAPMAN 



(See frontispiece) 



Savannah Sparrows {Passer cuius sandwichensis savanna, Figs, i, 2). 

 The Savannah Sparrow shows no sexual difference, and but little seasonal 

 difference in color. The juvenal plumage resembles adult plumages in general 

 pattern, but is strongly suffused with yellowish. In August, all but the wings 

 and tail are shed and the first winter plumage (Fig. 2) is acquired. This re- 

 sembles that of the adult in winter, but averages slightly browner, and is 

 without the yellow line over the eye which is sometimes present on the winter 

 adult. 



The nuptial plumage (Fig. i) is less brown in tone than that of the winter 

 plumage, the markings are more sharply defined, and there is a lemon- 

 yellow line (unfortunately not well shown in the plate) over the eye. This 

 plumage is acquired in part by molt, chiefly on the anterior parts of the 

 body, and in part by wear and fading. 



The Aleutian Savannah Sparrow (P. 5. sandwichensis), of Unalaska and 

 the contiguous islands, is larger than the eastern Savannah Sparrow, w^ith 

 more yellow behind the eye. The Western Savannah Sparrow (P. 5. alaudinus) 

 resembles the Eastern Savannah Sparrow, but has the bill more slender, the 

 yellow over the eye paler and of less extent. Bryant's Sparrow (P. s. 

 bryanti), of the coast of California, is smaller than the Western Savannah 

 Sparrow, and is darker in color, with the yellow over the eye more pronounced. 

 The seasonal plumage changes of these three subspecies are doubtless similar 

 to those of our Eastern Savannah Sparrow. 



Belding's Sparrow {Passer cuius beldingi, Fig. 3). Belding's Sparrow 

 breeds on the coast of California, from Santa Barbara southward to Lower 

 California, and is there evidently a representative of Bryant's Sparrow, 

 which nests on the California coast region from San Francisco northward. 

 It is closely related to Bryant's Sparrow, but is darker above and more heavily 

 streaked below, and in fall plumage the upper parts are more or less suffused 

 with oliveaceous. As in the Savannah Sparrow group, specimens in first 

 winter plumage lack the yellow line over the eye, which is present in all sum- 

 mer specimens. 



Large-billed Sparrow {Passer cuius rostratus rostratus, Fig. 4). The 

 generally paler coloration, absence of distinct streaks above, larger bill, and 

 other characters by which this species may be known from its relatives of the 

 Savannah Sparrow group, are well shown by the figure 4 of the plate. In 

 summer plumage, the streaks below are more sharply defined, and the tendency 

 to streaks on the back is more pronounced. In no plumage is there a yellow 

 line over the eye. 



(147) 



