148 BIRDS OF OHIO. 



204. (559.) SPIZELLA MONTICOLA (Gmel.). 101. 



Tree Sparrow. 



Synonyms: Spizella montana, Fringilla canadensis, F. monti- 



cola. 

 Winter Chippy, Winter Chip-bird, American Tree Sparrow, 



Canadian Sparrow. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164. 



Tree Sparrow is by far our most abundant winter bird. 

 It ranges both woods and fields, cleaning up every weed 

 patch in the country. It lives in flocks of from ten or a 

 dozen to several hundred individuals, and not infrequently 

 sings in the dead of winter. One could not watch a flock 

 of these birds for five minutes and retain a fit of the "blues." 

 In the coldest and stormiest weather they find something to 

 be happy about. 



These birds seem to have a preference for grass seed, 

 and will clean up anything that may be left exposed. But 

 surely no thrifty farmer will leave his millet or timothy 

 shocks out all winter long. In the absence of cultivated 

 grasses great quantities of injurious grass seeds are de- 

 stroyed. Only two per cent, of animal matter is eaten, hence 

 the service of these birds lies in the weed seeds destroyed. 



They reach Ohio about the beginning of the second week 

 in October and remain until the middle of April, or some- 

 times even into the last week of April. 



205. (560.) SPIZELLA SOCIALIS (Wils.). 102. 



Chipping Sparrow. 



Synonyms: Spizella domestica, Fringilla socialis. 



Chippy, Chip-bird, Hair-bird, Chipping-bird, Chipper. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 164. 



This sociable little bird is one of th^ door-yard birds 

 which must be well known to all who take any interest in 

 their feathered visitors. He may nest in the vine which 

 covers the trellis, if not disturbed ; or at least in one of the 

 ornamenal trees in your yard, or in the grape-vine. Some 

 have supposed that this and the Tree Sparrow were the 

 same, but this sparrow goes south in winter. It is really 



