1 6 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



My Favorite Song Bird. 



BY BROTHER ALPHONSUS, C. S. C. 



The question is often asked, " What is your favorite song bird? " 

 To the bird lover there are so many songsters that are his favorites 

 that it is not always easy to answer this question. But if an answer 

 must be given he will probably single out one that is dear to him 

 for many reasons. Such a bird is the song sparrow. 



When February is drawing to a close occasionally there are a 

 few fine days when the sun shines brightly, and there is just a 

 hint of the approaching spring. On such days those who are 

 accustomed to take daily walks will surely hear what they may 

 call "the first spring notes" of a bird, and this songster is the song 

 sparrow. And when summer is losing its intense heat toward the 

 end of August, and nearly every other note has died away, the 

 sweet singer of late February will be true to his name and greet 

 us with his cheery strain. 



It is probably the long song season of the song sparrow that 

 contributes most to make him a favorite song bird with many 

 nature lovers. And then his melody is one of the finest in the whole 

 gamut of song that comes from the throats of birds. Besides great 

 variety in the musical eiiFort of this sparrow, there is an absence 

 of the plaintive quality that is so marked a featui'e in the per- 

 formances of many of our birds. These sad strains are especially 

 noticeable in such species as the rose-breasted grosbeak, vesper 

 sparrow, field sparrow and indigo bird. 



The nesting habits of the song sparrow are interesting to the 

 student of bird life. It is possible that this species may have three 

 broods, for young birds arc fledged early in May, and nests with 

 young in them may be found late in August. Many of the nests 

 are built in the grass, not far from walks where people pass fre- 

 quently. Last August I found a nest placed in a small sapling near 

 the pier in St. Joseph's Lake, at Notre Dame, where bathers cer- 

 tainly made plenty of noise. The confiding character of the song 

 sparrow is a trait that increases our love for the bird. 



When nearly all the birds of summer have departed, and the cold 

 days of late autumn and early winter send a chill through our 

 bodies, we can still find a few song sparrows on our walks. Now 

 they are no longer in song, yet the memory of their singing remains. 



