Bird Families 



Purple Grackle. 

 Bronzed Grackle. 

 Cowbird. 

 Meadow Lark. 

 Western Meadow Lark. 

 Bobolink. 

 Orchard Oriole. 

 Baltimore Oriole. 



Family Fringillidce : FINCHES, SPARROWS, GROSBEAKS, 

 BUNTINGS, LINNETS, AND CROSSBILLS 



Generally fine songsters. Bills conical, short, and stout for 

 cracking seeds. Length from five to nine inches, usually under 

 eight inches. This, the largest family of birds that we have 

 (about one-seventh of all our birds belong to it), comprises birds 

 of such varied plumage and habit that, while certain family re- 

 semblances may be traced throughout, it is almost impossible to 

 characterize the ftmily as such. The sparrows are comparatively 

 small gray and brown birds with striped upper parts, lighter 

 underneath. Birds of the ground, or not far from it, elevated 

 perches being chosen for rest and song. Nest in low bushes or 

 on the ground. (Chipping sparrow often selects tall trees.) 

 Coloring adapted to grassy, dusty habitats. Males and females 

 similar. Flight labored. About forty species of sparrows are 

 found in the United States ; of these, fourteen may be met with 

 by a novice, and six, at least, surely will be. 



The /inches and their larger kin are chiefly bright-plumaged 

 birds, the females either duller or distinct from males ; bills 

 heavy, dull, and conical, befitting seed eaters. Not so migratory 

 as insectivorous birds nor so restless. Mostly phlegmatic in 

 temperament. Fine songsters. 



Chipping Sparrow. 



English Sparrow. 



Field Sparrow. 



Fox Sparrow. 



Grasshopper Sparrow. 



Savanna Sparrow. 



Seaside Sparrow. 



Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 

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