BIRDS OF THE WEST 57 



English sparrow. Loves the small bushes by the roadside. Dull brown 

 in streaks above. Gray with dark streaks below. Noticeable black 

 spot on upper breast. Special tail motion in flight. Sweet singer. 



540a. VESPER SPARROW. Poocoetes gramineus confinis. About 

 the size of its English cousin. Brown in streaks above. White with 

 dark streaks below. Shoulder patches pale russet. White tail feathers 

 noticeable in flight . A roadside and grass bird. Often sings in its up- 

 ward flight. Loves the roadside. 



558. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. ZenotrycMa alUcollis. 

 Nearly an inch longer than the English sparrow. Generally seen in 

 flocks during migration. Top of head with two black stripes separated 

 by a white one. Throat noticeably white. White wing-bars. Called 

 "Peabody Bird" from its song "See, see, Peabody, Peabody, Peabody." 

 Quite common in early spring. 



554. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. Zenotrichia leucophrys. An 

 inch longer than the English sparrow. Crown not white but with sever- 

 al black and white stripes. Resembles its white-throated cousin but 

 is without the white throat. 



559a. TREE SPARROW. Spisella monticola ochracea. The size 

 of the English sparrow. Streaked brown above. Dusky white below. 

 Chestnut patch on head. Black spot on center of breast. Has two 

 white wing-bars. 



546a. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Ammodramus savannarum 

 Mmaculatus. Five inches long. Called grasshopper sparrow because 

 its song resembles the buzzing of that insect. Perches often on wire 

 fences. Brown above with varied sparrow-like markings. Drab be- 

 low. Top of head rusty black. Sits quite erect and often sings from 

 weed stalks. Does not often fly when startled but hides. 



FINCHES. 



536. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Calcarius Lapponicus. Nearly an 

 inch longer than the English sparrow. Generally seen in flocks. Brown 

 above with black markings, gray below. Given their name because 

 they nest so far north and because their hind toe-nail is so long. Has 

 white wing-bars. Sings on the wing. 



567. JUNCO. Junco hy emails. The size of the English sparrow. 

 One of the snow birds. Slate-colored above. Males almost black on 

 head and neck. White beneath. A winter bird. Seen in flocks. 



517. PURPLE FINCH. Carpodacus purpureus. About the size 

 of the English sparrow. Not purple except on head but raspberry red. 

 Brown above. Dull white below. Usually seen in flocks as a winter 

 visitant. Tail indented. 



534. SNOWFLAKE. Passerina nivalis. An inch longer than the 



