Open Nests on the Ground 
The nest is always placed on the ground, generally at the 
root of a tall weed or small bush in an open field ; it is slightly 
made of coarse and fine grass and small roots, lined with horse- 
hair. 4 or 5 eggs are laid ; they are whitish, thinly spotted and 
blotched with warm brown and lilac, with sometimes a few 
black markings. Size—.80 x .60. See Fig. 13, Plate B. 
These sparrows are distinguished by the white outside tail 
feathers, which are extremely noticeable when the bird flies. 
Do not mistake it for a junco or titlark! They are among the 
commonest of the sparrows in parts of Long Island and in New 
England, where they commence breeding towards the end of 
May, raising as many as three broods during the season. They 
are called Vesper Sparrows from their habit of singing until quite 
late in the evening. 
542a. Savanna Sparrow: Ammodramus sandwichensis 
savanna (Wils.) 
Adult—Upper parts brownish, darkly streaked ; pale yellow line 
over the eye and at the bend of the wing ; under parts white 
or whitish streaked with dark brown. Length—5.65. 
Breeding Range—From southern New Jersey northward to 
Labrador. 
The nest is built on the ground in fields or pasture land 
inland, or in the salt marshes and grassy places on or near the 
coast; it is a flimsy structure of grasses, rarely of moss, lined with 
fine grass and occasionally horse-hair. The number of eggs 
varies from 3 to 6; they are white or greenish white, with fine 
brown spots or large blotches of cinnamon. The variations in 
colour are so great that any accurate description is scarcely 
possible. Size—.78 x .56. See Fig. 15, Plate B. 
This little sparrow is generally to be seen along the sea-coast, 
though it is also found inland. Minot speaks of seeing them 
breeding in the White Mountains, where he found a nest con- 
taining fresh eggs the 23d of July. They begin nesting in May, 
and rear two or three broods. 
Care should be taken that the Savanna Sparrow is not con- 
fused with either the sharp-tailed, seaside, or Ipswich sparrow; 
the latter, however, does not breed in the United States, but is a 
northern-breeding species, which, after the breeding season, 
comes on our northern Atlantic seaboard. 
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