FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 327 



WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW 



Probably the handsomest of our American sparrows, 

 they range from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, 

 spending the winter many miles south of their breeding- 

 grounds. The birds rarely nest in the United States, except 

 in Alpine regions of the Sierra Xevadas and the Rocky 

 iNIountains. They generally resort to the moist sections of 

 Labrador, Newfoundland, and west across the northern 

 portions of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba. Their nests 

 are of grasses, on the ground or in bushes. Four or five 

 pale greenish-blue eggs are laid. They winter through- 

 out the United States and south into Mexico. The bird 

 reminds one of the white-throated sparrow, or peabody 

 bird, but the White-crowned Sparrow has no white on the 

 under parts. It is less common than the white-throated 

 sparrow and mov^s northward usually in May, sometimes 

 lingering in the Great Lakes region until June 1st. 



Ernest E. Thompson describes the song as resembling 

 that of the white-throated, with a peculiarly sad cadence 

 and in a clear, soft whistle that is characteristic of the 

 group. Another peculiarity of this species is its habit of 

 singing some of its sweetest refrains during the darkest 

 hours of night. 



The bird is of great economical value, subsisting during 

 its migrations almost exclusively on the seeds of various 

 weeds obtained in the fence comers, along hedges, and 

 about gardens. The young when first hatched are fed upon 

 insects. 



