CHIPPING SPARROW. 



A, O U. No. 560. (Splzella socialis)' 



RANGE. 



North America east of the Rocky Mountains, breeding from the Gulf 

 States northwards and wintering in Mexico. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length, 5.25 in,; extent, 6.5 in.; tail, 2 in. crown, chestnut; forehead, 

 black with a white stripe through the center. A light gray line over 

 the eye, and a black one through it. Upper parts grayish, streaked 

 with brown, wings and tail brownish, the former with two narrow bands- 

 of white across them. The under parts are pale gray almost white. 



The male bird differs from the female in frequently having a more or 

 less distinct line of blackish extending from the base of the bill down- 

 wards. Young birds have the crown dull brown, streaked with black,, 

 and birds of the first year have the breast also streaked with brown. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



Chipping Sparrows build their nests in bushes or trees at heights- 

 varying from two to twenty feet from the ground. Their favorite loc- 

 ation is an apple orchard and several pairs may be found in one orchard 

 as they are social birds and always at peace with other birds as well as 



their own kind. The nest is made of grasses and roots and lined with 

 horsehair; They are delicately made nests and frequently it is possible 

 to see the eggs through the bottom of the nest. They lay three or four 

 eggs of a pale bluish green color. These are specked chiefly around 

 the larger end with black and purplish brown. 



WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW. 



A. O. IE--N'o.'S60a. ' (Spizella socialis arizonae) 



RANGE. 



West of the Rocky Mountains on the Pacific slope. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Varies from the Eastern Chippy chiefly in the darker gray color of 

 the under parts and duller or streaked appearance of the crown. The 

 The nest and eggs are the same as those of the eastern bird. 



