VESPER SPARROW, OR BAY-WINGED 

 BUNTING 



Upper parts light brown with darker streakings; under 

 parts yellowish-white streaked with brown on breast; wings 

 fuscous; shoulders reddish; tail dark brown with outermost 

 feathers white ; bill and feet pale. Length, six ipches. 



Nest, on the ground and made of coarse grass lined with 

 finer grasses, rootlets and hair. Eggs, four or five, dull, white, 

 specked with reddish-brown, .80 x .60 inches. 



About the first of April the Vesper Sparrow comes up 

 from the Middle South in great numbers and spreads over the 

 fields and pastures. It is a ground bird, seldom rising above 

 the top rail of the fence. It may be known by the white tail- 

 feathers clearly shown as it alights, the color of the wings, and 

 its habit of skulking before you on the ground. 



It may be seen in a short walk through the fields of any 

 farm, or along a country roadside; for it is one of our most 

 common summer residents. As you approach, it runs rapidly 

 before you, then stops for you to come up to it, after which it 

 runs on again, always keeping a little ahead of you. If you 

 hurry to overtake the bird, it may rise and turn aside or fly 

 away and leave you. 



This bird raises two families each year. Its neat spring 

 suit becomes much bedrabbled*through contact with dust and 

 grass and stubble long before the end of Summer. By October, 

 when it leaves us, it has renewed its bright plumage. 



The melody of the Bay-wing reminds you of that of the 

 Song Sparrow. However, it is much sweeter though not quite 

 so lively. It is oftenest heard when the day is closing and when 



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