BIRDS OF NEW YORK 307 



Distribution. The Tree sparrow is a common winter resident in this 

 State. It makes its appearance in the fall between the 2Oth of September 

 and the loth of October, and passes northward again in the spring between 

 the loth and the 25th of April, occasionally being seen as late as the first 

 week in May. Its breeding range extends from Great Bear lake and 

 northern Ungava to Great Slave lake, northern Quebec and Newfound- 

 land. It winters from southern Minnesota, Ontario and Nova Scotia 

 to Arkansas and South Carolina. 



Haunts and habits. This sparrow is one of our commonest winter 

 birds. It is found along the edges of woodlands and hedgerows, and is 

 especially fond of swamps and the borders of rivers and ponds, frequenting 

 the shrubbery for protection and making excursions into the near-by fields 

 to feed on the weed seeds, of which it destroys immense numbers during 

 the course of the winter months. It is rarely seen feeding on the seeds 

 of birches or other trees which retain their fruit in winter, but almost 

 always near the ground in patches of smartweed, ragweed, pigeon grass, 

 amaranth and goosefoot. They are slightly gregarious in habits, little 

 scattered companies of 20 to 30 members usually associating more or less 

 with j uncos, Song sparrows and goldfinches in their feeding. 



While at work among the weeds they keep up a continual tinkling 

 of notes which have been compared to the syllables " teel-wit," but sound 

 to my ear merely like the jingling of tiny bells. In March and April, 

 however, the Tree sparrow gives his contribution to the spring chorus, 

 a beautiful strain of long drawn notes which has been compared by many 

 writers to the song of a Canary, beginning loud and clear, far sweeter than 

 the quality of the Canary's voice, and ending in a loud, inspiring trill. 

 Besides the tinkling call notes, this species also has a feeble " tsip " of 

 alarm when disturbed. 



The flight of the Tree sparrow is less jerky and dodging than that of 

 the Song sparrow and more easily sustained. He is rather spritely in 

 movements and more given to seeking exposed perches than either the Song 

 sparrow or the Junco, and is frequently seen, after being driven from his 



