512 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
latest record in the fall, October 19, 1889. Our spring records for about a 
score of localities in the southern part of the state are all for the first half 
of April, the great majority falling between the 4th and the 14th. It 
ordinarily moves southward during September, and few are found in the 
state after October first. Thereis no record of its wintering in Michigan. 
While migrating it travels in small companies or loose flocks, but soon 
after its arrival in spring the pairs separate and nesting begins. 
The first nest is built commonly before the first of June, dates for fresh 
eggs ranging from May 8 to June 3, while a second brood is reared late 
in June or early in July. Mr. Westnedge took three eggs on July 20, 
1890, in Kalamazoo county, and Dr. Wolcott records a nest with eggs 
at New Baltimore, St. Clair county, July 23, 1893. The nest is neatly 
and compactly built of fine grasses, roots and hair and is usually lined 
with horse hair or cow’s hair, but sometimes we find only grass. It is 
placed either on the ground or in a low bush, rarely more than three or 
four feet from the ground, although we have seen the nest twelve feet 
from the ground in an old apple tree. The eggs are three to five, whitish, 
thickly sprinkled with reddish brown, and average .68 by .51 inches. 
The food resembles that of other ground-feecding sparrows, combining 
a large amount of weed and grass seed with a considerable number of 
insects, especially while feeding the young. 
The bird is somewhat famous for its sweet and plaintive song, which 
perhaps has been a little overrated. Mr. Hoffman speaks of it as follows: 
“The song is a fine strain, beginning with two or three high, sustained, 
piercing notes, then running into a succession of similar, more rapid notes, 
allina minor key, and often running down, or occasionally up, the chromatic 
scale. Sometimes the last rapid notes rise, and occasionally one note is 
repeated throughout. A beautiful form of the song, often given towards 
evening, is made by a repetition of the whole in a different key as soon 
as the first part is ended” (Birds of New England and Eastern New York, 
p. 160). John Burroughs says its song is like the words ‘‘fe-o, fe-o, fe-o, 
few-few-few, fee-fee-fee, uttered at first high and leisurely, but running 
very rapidly toward the close which is low and soft.” 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult (sexes alike): Very similar to the Tree Sparrow (No. 230), but readily separable 
by the smaller size, lighter tints (rusty instead of chestnut above), absence of the dusky 
spot on the breast, and the wholly reddish-yellow bill. Tail about the length of wing, 
usually a little longer; top of head rather pale rusty brown, usually but not always with an 
imperfect median stripe of grayish; a narrow stripe of rusty behind the eye, expanding 
into a spot on the side of the neck; middle of back and scapulars rusty, like top of head, 
but streaked with blackish and grayish-white; rump and upper tail-coverts plain gray; 
under parts shading from grayish on throat and chest to brownish-gray on sides and flanks, 
and pure white on belly and under tail coverts; wings and tail precisely as in the Tree 
Sparrow, except perhaps a little paler brown on secondaries and tertiaries, and the wing- 
bars a little narrower; bill wholly reddish-yellow; iris brown. Young: Very similar to 
adult, but head markings less distinct, colors duller and more blended, and breast and sides 
streaked with blackish. 
Length 5.10 to 6 inches; wing 2.45 to 2.70; tail 2.50 to 2.80. 
