THE FOX SPARROW 



{Passerella iliaca.) 



The Fox Sparrow is one of our most tional outburst rising full-toned and 

 interesting and engaging birds and sings clear, and passing all too quickly to a 

 a most fascinating song. It has an ex- closing cadence, which seems to linger 

 tensive range covering eastern North in the silent air. It is the song of the 

 America from the Arctic coast, south Fox Sparrow with that fuller power and 

 to the Gulf States, and westward to the richness of tone which come to it, or 

 Great Plains and Alaska. It breeds, seem to, at the sunset hour. It breaks 

 however, only north of the United forth as if inspired from pure joy in 

 States and winters chiefly south of Vir- the awakened season, though with some 

 ginia and Illinois. For this reason this vague undertone, scarcely of sadness, 

 species is only known in the northern rather of some lower tone of joy." Mr. 

 United States as an early spring and Maynard, who heard the Fox Sparrows 

 rather late fall migrant. During this sing on the Magdalen Island, says of this 

 period of journeying from its winter magnificent melody: "These fine strains 

 home to its summer nesting home in the consist at first of three clear, rather 

 spring, and its return in the fall, its rapid notes given with increasmg em- 

 wonderful song is not often heard. At phasis, then a short pause ensues, and 

 these seasons, these Sparrows are very the remainder of the lay is poured forth 

 quiet, uttering occasionally a soft call more deliberately, terminating with a 

 note. While with us, the Fox Sparrows well rounded note, giving a finish to a 

 usually frequent moist woods and the song which for sweetness and clearness 

 edges of thickets. They are usually in of tone is seldom surpassed even by our 

 small flocks, and though they may be best performers." Mr. T. C. Smith, who 

 in the neighborhood of other sparrows has made a careful study of this bird's 

 they do not mingle with them. While song, says : "The voice of the Fox Spar- 

 they seldom stray far from thickets they row in its full power is clear, sustained, 

 do frequent hedgerows and weedy grain- and rendered rich by overtones. It has 

 fields. Frequently they search for their not, of course, the metallic, vibrant ring 

 food upon the ground, scratching among of the thrushes or the bobolink, it is 

 the dead leaves and other debris in a rather the sparrow or finch voice at its 

 manner fully equal to our ordinary do- best, a whistle full of sweetness with 

 mestic fowls, though they are much continual accompanying changes of tim- 

 smaller birds. bre." 



In the spring the male Fox Sparrows The Fox Sparrows build their nests 

 become very musical and fortunate in- either on the ground or in trees or 

 deed are those whose pleasure it is to bushes. When built upon the ground 

 hear their song. Dr. Brewer has said: the site selected for the nest is usually 

 "His voice is loud, clear, and melodious ; well concealed by the low branches of 

 his notes full, rich, and varied ; and his trees and tall grass. The nests which 

 song is unequalled by any of this famiily are usually large for the size of the birds 

 that I have ever heard." Mr. Eugene are constructed with loosely woven dry 

 P. Bicknell writes most glowingly of grasses, animal hairs, and moss which 

 the song. He says : "Its song is not sur- forms the outer wall. In some localities 

 passed by that of any of our Sparrows, there is placed inside of the outer wall 

 It is a revelation to hear it at sundown of the nest a second layer of finer grass 

 on some vernally softened evening of and moss. The lining or bed consists 

 early springtime ; little swarms of gnats of hair and the feathers of various spec- 

 hover in the balmy air; from the twi- ies of water-fowls. In one nest, Mr. 

 light meadows comes the welcome, half- Audubon found the down of the eider 

 doubtful piping of the first hylas — no duck. The Fox Sparrows often nest 

 other sound. Then perhaps from some in colonies, 

 dusky thicket a bird's song! An emo- 



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