306 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



Tree Sparrow. Winter Chippy. 



Sjdzella -Jiionticoln. 



Length. — About six inches. 



Adult. — Crown chestnut ; line over eye dullwliite; ime through eye dark (not 



black) ; back bay, black-streaked ; tail dusky, with light edgings ; two 



prominent white wmg bars; below, whitish; side of head, throat, and 



■ upper breast tmted with ash ; breast with a central dusky spot ; lower breast 



and sides tinged with ]iale brownisli. 



Spaso7i. — October to April. 



Fig. 137. —Tree .Sjiarrow, about 

 one-lialf natural size. 



The Tree Sparrow is a conmion winter resident of most 

 parts of the State. The species is ahnost as regular in a})- 

 pearance as the Juneo, l)ut not so plentiful. Though called 



the Tree Sj)arrow, it is largely a 

 ground Sparrow while in ^Nfassa- 

 chusetts. Wherever it can find a 

 plentiful supply of food and good 

 shelter it renmins throughout the 

 winter, unless driven south by 

 snows so deep as to cover its food 

 supply. It frequents thickets on 

 the sheltered side of hills, near 

 swamps, meadows, or weedy fields. 

 In such fields it often feeds far from hushy cover, but flies 

 quickly to the thicket u})oii the ai)proacli of danger. 



This species usually goes in flocks, and individuals are not 

 commonly seen alone ; although a single bird may some- 

 times be found with a flock of Juncos. It feeds mainly on 

 the ground, and picks up the seeds of weeds as they fall. 

 A snowfall merely brings the birds nearer the to[)S of the 

 weeds, and so long as there is plenty of seed they are as 

 happy as the Snowbirds. They can climb about among 

 the stronger weed stalks, clinging like a Goldfinch. Often 

 two birds may be seen feeding from a single weed, while 

 another hops about on the snow below, gleaning the seeds 

 that fall. This species follows the Juncos into weedy vege- 

 table gardens, and flocks about farms and haystacks to pick 

 up seeds. The Tree Sparrows are among the few Ifirds 

 that can "look our winters in the face and sing." They 

 are occasionally heard singing in November and December 



