306 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



Tree Sparrow. Winter Chippy. 



S-pizcUa monticola monUcola. 



Length. — About six inches. 



Adult. — Crown chestnut ; line over eye dull white; line through eye dark (not 

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

 prominent white wing 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 jiale brownish. 



Season. — October to April. 



The Tree Sparrow is a common winter resident of most 

 parts of the State. The species is ahiiost as regular in ap- 

 pearance as tlie Junco, but not so plentiful. Though called 



the Tree Sparrow, it is largely a 

 ground Sparrow while in ]Massa- 

 chusetts. Wlierever it can find a 

 })lentiful supply of food and good 

 shelter it remains 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 bushy cover, but flies 

 quickly to the thicket upon the approach 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 mainl}^ on 

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

 A snowfall merelv brings the birds nearer the tops 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 birds 

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

 are occasionally heard singing in November and December 



Fig. 137. — Tree Sparrow, about 

 one-half natural size. 



