Sparrows 325 



trasting strongly with the surrounding plumage. Both 

 of these sparrows are common in the Southern states in 



FIG. 201. Heads of lark sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, and white- 

 throated sparrow. 



winter and in the Northern states during the migration, 

 when small flocks of them may be seen in thickets or 

 hedgerows. Which of these sparrows do you find to be 

 the more common in your locality ? 



Fox sparrow. The fox sparrow is the largest of our 

 sparrows. The upper parts are rufous brown, the under 

 parts streaked and spotted with the same color. It 

 winters in all of the Southern states. Flocks of them 

 may be seen for a long period in spring and fall when 

 migrating through the Northern states. They frequent 

 weedy grainfields, roadside shrubbery, and open woods, 

 where they search for food by scratching among the 

 fallen leaves. Fox sparrows are fine singers. They 

 are often mistaken for thrushes. 



Questions about sparrows. How many species of 

 sparrows do you know? Which ones do you see at all 

 seasons ? Which ones in winter ? Which ones in summer ? 

 Which ones only in the season of migration? How 

 many of them can you recognize by their notes? Why 

 do sparrows winter farther north than swallows? 

 How do their wings compare with those of swallows? 

 Explain the difference. 



