174 
Economic Status. The White-throat isa valuable bird. It is important 
as a destroyer of weed seeds, especially of ragweed, and consumes a con- 
siderable number of insects and a little wild fruit. As the species comes 
down in great numbers to the thickly cultivated sections in early autumn, 
its effect on the succeeding season’s weed crop must be pronounced. 
559. Tree Sparrow. FR.—LE PINSON DE MONTAGNE. Spizella monticola. L, 6-36. 
Plate XXXII B. 
Distinctions. Much like the Chipping and Field Sparrows, but larger and the bill 
vellow with dark tip instead of black as in the former, or cinnamon as in the latter and with 
a semi-concealed dark spot in the middle of the breast. 
Field Marks. Red-brown cap, prominent white wing-bars, ashy-grey throat, and 
dark spot in middle of the evenly coloured unspotted breast. 
Nesting. On or near ground, in nest of grasses, rootlets, and hair. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. Breeds in the far north beyond the limits of 
civilization; winters in northern United States. 
SUBSPECIES. Eastern and western subspecies of the Tree Sparrow occur in Canada. 
The former is the type form and the only one that occurs within the region covered by this 
work. 
Among the hosts of sparrows that congregate in the shrubbery in the 
autumn or return early in the spring, is the Tree Sparrow. In the 
southern parts of the Dominion it sometimes remains all winter, but is a 
migrant elsewhere. It is a natty little bird and its modest song in the 
early spring is most welcome after the long silent winter. 
Economic Status. The Tree Sparrow is valuable for its destruction of 
weed seeds and seems to have no bad habits. 
560. Chipping Sparrow. CHIPPIE, HAIR BIRD. FR.—LE PETIT PINSON A COURONNE 
ROUSSE. Spizella passerina. L, 5-37. Plate XX XIII A. 
Distinctions. A familiar bird, separable from the Swamp and Tree Sparrows which, 
like it, have red caps, by size; and from them and the Field Sparrow by its black bill and 
the black stripe through the eye. Juveniles have streaked heads and closely resemble 
the Clay-coloured Sparrow, a western bird that occasionally may be confused with them 
in far western Ontario. The Chipping Sparrow, however, has a slaty instead of an 
olive-buff rump. 
Field Marks. A small, slim sparrow with red cap, unstreaked breast, and a black 
line through the eye. Its long drawn out song, a series of unaccented chirps running into 
each other in a single sustained trill, is very characteristic. 
Nesting. In trees or bushes, in nest of grasses, rootlets, and fibres plentifully inter- 
mixed with long hairs. The amount of horse hair used in the nest is the origin of one of this 
bird’s popular names. 
Distribution. Eastern North America to well north of civilization. Breeds in Canada 
wherever found. 
SUBSPECIES. The form of the Chipping Sparrow occurring in eastern Canada 
is the Eastern Chipping Sparrow, the type form. Another subspecies occurs in the west. 
The Chipping Sparrow is rarely absent from the vicinity of suburban 
or village homes, coming close to houses and frequenting the orchard and 
shade trees, the front yard, and even the door step. It does not fear man, 
but though not avoiding him it escapes notice through its quiet and un- 
obtrusive habits. 
Economic Status. The Chipping Sparrow is a greater insect eater 
than most of the family. In fact, through June, 93 per cent of its food is 
composed of insects, only 1 per cent of which are beneficial species such as 
predacious beetles and parasitic wasps. The average for the year is 38 
per cent of insects, and for the months spent by the bird in Canada, the 
