SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 



143 



228 [542a] Passerculus sandwichensis savanna (Wils.). 



Savannah Sparrow. 



Abundant summer resident (winter). March 26 to November 12 (Decem- 

 ber 6, January i). 



Eggs: May 26 to June 20. 



Unlike the Song and Vesper and other sparrows which sing on arrival from 

 the South, this bird is at first silent or emits a feeble warble or an imperfect song. 



In courtship the male stands on the ground and vibrates his wings rapidly 

 above his back. He also flies slowly a short distance above the ground with head 

 and tail up and rapidly vibrating wings. Two males often chase each other in 

 this way making a rasping, buzzing sound. I have heard the song given on 

 the wing. 



[545] Ammodramus bairdi (Aud.). Baikd's Sparrow. — The Ipswich Sparrow was 

 first believed to be this species and published as such. 



229 [546] Ammodramus savannarum australis Maynard. 

 Grasshopper Sparrow; Yellow-winged Sparrow. 



Not uncommon summer resident, locally. May 10 to August i. 



In the original Memoir I mentioned Ipswich as the only known locality in the 

 County for this bird. It has also been found near Salem and at Boxford and 

 in Peabody^ and is probably a summer resident elsewhere, but its retiring ways 

 make its observation difficult. 



230 [547] Passerherbulus henslowi henslowi (Aud.). 

 Henslow's Sparrow. 

 Rare and local summer resident. May to September. 

 Eggs: May 25. 



On May 31, 1918, instead of riding in a motor to the train at Ipswich, I was 

 so fortunate as to-walk. At a turn of the road near a fresh marsh that bordered 

 on a region of salt-marsh I heard the distinctive song of the Henslow's Sparrow, 

 which I wrote down on this occasion as cu-sick. It was repeated several times 



1 Mackintosh, R. B. Bull. Essex County Ornith. Club, p. 40, 1919. 



