f))') White -throated Sparrow. 



Wfiite-fchroated Sparrow 

 Z on fit rich i a alhicollis. 



R-'jnlnted from ^^ American Ornitholofry " for iqoi. 



Range: Eastern North Amerira from r,eor,f;ia to Lab- 

 rador and West to the Greai Plains. Breeds from northern 

 United States northwards. Winters from the Middle States, 

 southwards. 



Description: Length 7 inches; extent 9^ in.; tail 

 3] in. Bill and feet yellowish-brown; eye, brown. 



Adult Mal^r. Two black stripes on the crown^ separ- 

 ated by a medium one of white. A broad stripe extends from 

 base of bill, over the eye and down the sides of neck. This 

 stripe is white except that part in front of the eye. which is 

 yellow. A black streak on sides of head, back of the eye. 

 Bark chestnut streaked with dark brown. Edge of wing 

 ye'low. Two narrow white wing bars. Throat white edged 

 with black on sides and ending abruptly against the dark ash 

 of breast and sides of head. Belly white. 



Female and Young. —Colour duller and throat grey. 



Nest and Eg'S: The White-throated Sparrow br eds 

 abundantly throughout northern New England, New York, 

 Michigan, and Ea^te;n Canada. The nest is placed on the 

 ground, rarely in bushes. It is often slightly concealed 



under a fallen branch or placed under an overhanging stone. 

 It is rather a bulky nest composed of grass and w-:eds. The 

 eggs are laid early in Jua •. They are four or five in number, 

 pale greenish -blue, sprinkled and blotched with brown, chest- 

 nut and lilac. Distinguished fiom the common So.ig Sparrow 

 by the larger size. 



Habits: The I'eabody Bird, by which name the White- 

 throated Sparrow is frequen'ly known, is unquestionably the 

 most handsome of all the Sparro\v-s. His plumage, not in the 

 least gaudy, harmonizes perfectly in every detail and presents 

 a very pleasing picture to the eye. The colours on the back, 

 as in most of the Sparrows, correspond closely to those of 

 the dead leaves, and as he spends most of his time on the 

 ground he is a very inconspicuous subject. 



