276 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



It is readily distinguishable from the other two Sharp-tails. 

 The buff of the breast and sides of the head is pale and washed 

 out, the streaks below are faint, and above the bird is paler 

 and more uniform, the dark crown stripes, auricular streaks 

 and back all toned down or practically indistinguishable. As 

 a result it has a pale and gray effect, which is striking when a 

 bird is merely flushed and flies off over the marsh. 



Long Island. Fairly common transient, probably regular in 

 spring, but overlooked; May 29, 1921, Jones Beach (Griscom and 

 J. M. Johnson); May 30, 1913 at Freeport (H. Thurston, speci- 

 men collected); June 5, 1920 at Mastic (J. T. Nichols and Gris- 

 com); in the fall from September 24 to November 5. 



ORIENT. Uncommon fall transient; September 24, 1914 

 to October 22, 1919. 



MASTIC. Uncommon transient. 



LONG BEACH. Regular fall transient, not as yet detected 

 in spring; October 5, 1916 (Bicknell) to November 5, 1912 

 (Griscom, Miller, Rogers). 



New York State. Collected on Staten Island, May 30, 1908 

 and October 19, 1907 (Chapin). Reported as a rare transient 

 at Ossining, September 29 to October 16 (Fisher). If these birds 

 were correctly determined, their occurrence inland is remarkable. 



New Jersey. Only one definite report in our area, a single bird 

 on the Newark Bay Marshes May 21, 1922 (Urner). 



SHARP-TAILED SPARROW (Passerherbulus caudacutus) 



The Sharp-tair.is strictly confined in our area to the salt 



marshes of the coast, where it is a common and characteristic 



summer resident, occasionally wintering. As a rule it is 



shyer than the Seaside Sparrow, and prefers drier situations. 



Long Island. Common summer resident, occasionally winter- 

 ing; April 16 to November 5. 



ORIENT. Abundant summer resident, recorded in winter; 

 April 16, 1915 to November 1, 1920; average arrival April 30. 

 MASTIC. Common summer resident. 

 LONG BEACH. Common summer resident, from April 28 

 1921 (Bicknell), often remaining into November, and occa- 

 sionally wintering; no March records. 



