North American Birds Eggs. 



261 



fMluisli white] 



from Mexico to 



As indicated by their name soc/a/Zs, Chipping Sparrows are sociable birds not 

 onl}' with others of the bird tribe, but witli man. In all localities that are not 

 overrun with English Sparrows, you will tind these confiding birds nesting in 

 trees and shrubs in the yard and in vines from porclies, while 

 in orchards, nearly every tree has its tenant. They are smaller 

 birds than the last (5.5 in. long) and have the brown crown 

 bordered by blackish and a black line through the eye. 

 Their nests, which may be found at any height from the 

 ground and in any kind of a tree or slirub, are made of tine 

 grass and weed stems, lined with hair; their three to five eggs 

 are a handsome greenish blue, sparingly specked chiefly 

 about the large end with blackish brown and purplish. 

 Size .70 X .52. ^ 



560a. Western Chipping Sparrow. Sjjizella socialis arizniifi'. 



Range. — Western North America, chiefly west of the Rockies, 

 Alaska; winters in Mexico. 



This variety is much duller colored than the last and has but little brown on 

 the back; its nesting habits are the same and the eggs do not appear to differ in 

 any respect from those of the eastern bird. 



561. Clay-colored Sparrow. S}nzclla pallida. 



Range.— Interior of United States and Canada, form the Mississippi Valley to 

 the Rockies, breeding from Iowa and Colorado northward; winters in Mexico. 



These birds can best be described as like the Chipping 

 ., . - Sparrow with the brown largely replaced with blackish. They 



breed quite abundantly in Manitoba and Minnesota, placing 

 their nests on or near the ground, and making them of fine 

 grasses. The eggs cannot be distinguished with certainty from 

 those of the preceding but average a tritle smaller. Size .65 x .50 

 Data. — Barnsley, Manitoba, May 24, I'.IOO. Nest of grass stalks 

 lined with fine grass, one toot above ground in tuft of 

 Collector, Chris P. Forge. 



562. Erewer Sparrow. Spizella breu'eri. 



Range. — Western United States from Mexico to British Colum- 

 bia rarely and chiefly between the Rockies and the Sierras; most 

 abundant in New Mexico and Arizona. 



This bird is similar to the last but is paler and more finely 

 streaked. Their nesting habits are like tliose of j>o/?(V/rt and the 

 eggs are indistinguishable. 



563. Field Sparrow. Spizella pumlla. 

 Range.— -North America east of the Plains, breeding from the 



Gulf to southern Manitoba and Quebec; winters in the Gulf 

 States. 



These are abundant birds along roadsides, in thickets, or on 



dry sidehills, where they nest indifferently on the ground or in 



^^^^ bushes, making their nests of grass and weed stems. They are 



• h fh'fp 1 the birds, whose high piping song is most frequently heard on 



biuisn wnite.j ^^^ sultry days in summer. Their eggs are laid in May or June; 



they are pale bluish white, speckled and blotched with yellowish brown and 



grayish purple. Size .65 x .50. 



563a. Western Field Sparrow. Spizella pimlla arenarca. 



Range. — Great Plains from Mexico to Montana, breeding in the northern 

 half of its range and wintering in the southern. 



A paler form of the last, whose general habits and eggs are the same as those 

 of the eastern bird. 



[Bluish white 



grass. 



[Bluish white. I 



X 



^i 



