SAVANNA SPARROW 225 



Savanna Sparrow : Ammodramus sandwichensis 

 savanna. 



Above brownish black ; under parts streaked with black ; pale 

 yellow mark over or in front of eye and on bend of wing. 

 Fall birds washed with yellowish brown. Length, about 5^ 

 inches. 



GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. Eastern North America ; breeds 

 from Missouri and northern New Jersey north to Labrador 

 and Hudson Bay, and winters from southern Illinois and Vir- 

 ginia southward to Cuba and Mexico. 



Mr. Bidgway characterizes the Savanna Spar- 

 row as " one of the inconspicuous little birds 

 which hide in the grass or run stealthily along 

 the fences or furrows, having nothing special in 

 their appearance or habits to attract particular 

 attention." 



Sometimes, as you cross a meadow, one of the 

 little brown striped creatures will start up from 

 under your feet, and you will look down to find a 

 nest with bluish spotted eggs in it. 



Dr. Jonathan Dwight describes the Savanna's 

 song as " insignificant a weak, musical little trill 

 following a grasshopper-like introduction of such 

 small volume that it can be heard but a few rods. 

 It usually resembles tsip-tslp-tsip, se f e-e-s, r-r-r. 

 More singing is heard toward sunset. . . . Each 

 male seems to have a number of favorite perches, 

 weeds or fence posts, which are visited as inclina- 

 tion dictates." 



Speaking of the Sparrow's food, Mr. Nehrling 

 says : " Like all our small birds these Sparrows 



