. 
Erown, Olive or Grayish accra; tad ease "] 
mons to investigate the character of the alleged p pest ha “< et te 
learn whether the sparrow’s services as an insect-destro} * do "i ; 
not outweigh the injury it does to fruit and grain, 38 
ape a 
ase: 
a a 
J = ‘4 
’ a 
Field Sparrow | o re i A 
(Spizella pusilla) Finch family a 
in - 
Called also: FIELD BUNTING; WOOD SPARROW; ‘BU 
SPARROW 4 
Length—5.5 to 5.75 inches. A little smaller than the | 
sparrow. 
Male—Chestnut crown. Up back bright chestnut, 
streaked with black and ashy brown. Lower back 1 
grayish. Whitish wing-bars. Cheeks, line over the 
throat, pale brownish drab. Tail long. Underneath g 
white, tinged with palest buff on breast and sides. Bill. 
reddish. ° a 
Fzmale—Paler; the crown edged with grayish. 
Range—North America, from British provinces to the Gulf, a 
westward to the plains. Winters from Illinois and Virg 
southward. 
Migrations—April. November. Common summer resident. ia Bs; 
Simply because both birds have chestnut crowns, the f ld 
sparrow is often mistaken for the dapper, sociable chippy; nd, 4 
no doubt because it loves such heathery, grassy pastures as ar pe 
dear to the vesper sparrow, and has bay wings and a feet 
song, these two cousins also are often The fielc =a ; 
row has a more reddish-brown upper back than. any A Me mbar mall © 
relatives; the absence of streaks on its breast and of tl 
tail quills so conspicuous in the vesper s flight, sufficie ent ie ; 
differentiate the two birds, while the red bill of the field 5 arrow 
is a positive mark of identification. a 
This bird of humble nature, that makes the scrubby pé as tures Ey 
and uplands tuneful from early morning until after sunset, f ies 
away with exasperating shyness as you approach. Alighting on 
a convenient branch, he lures you on with his clear, ie 
Follow him, and he only hops about from bush to bush, f 
and farther away, singing as he goes a variety of strains, ¥ 
is one of the bird’s peculiarities. The song not only pace . ee 
individuals, but in different localities, which may be one Tea ison a 
; 152 . e Ree 13 . 
