70 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



quality, lacking in the White-throat's more cheerful lay, 

 charming as that is. 



WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 

 Zonotrichia albicollis. Case 2, Figs. 45, 46; Case 4, Fig. 40 



The adults may be recognized at sight by their white throat, 

 but this character is less prominent and sometimes almost wanting 

 in young birds (Fig. 46) which will require close scrutiny. L. 6 j. 



Range. Nests from northern New England and central Min- 

 nesota northward; winters from southern New England and 

 Ohio to the Gulf. 



Washington, very common'W. V., abundant T. V., Mch. 18— 

 May; Sept. 15-Dec. 16. Ossining, common T. V., Apl. 10- 

 May 21; Sept. 20— Oct. 30; a few winter. Cambridge, very 

 oommon T. V., Apl. 25-May 15; Oct. i-Nov. 10; a few winter. 

 N. Ohio, common T. V., Apl. i-May 21; Sept. 10-Nov. 7. 

 Glen Ellyn, common T. V., Apl. o-May 26; Sept. 13-Nov. 7. 

 SE. Minn., common T. V., Apl. 8-; Sept. 2-Nov. 13. 



This clear-voiced whistler is known to many persons 

 who have never seen it. When anyone returning from the 

 bird's summer range tells me "I heard a bird sing like 

 this,"» I know before he whistles a note that he will 

 probably imitate the White-throat. Fortunately the song 

 has so much character and its intervals conform so closely 

 to those of our musical scale, that a recognizable imitation 

 of it is within the power of everyone. There is much 

 variation in the arrangement of the notes and migrants 

 never seem to sing with th e power of nesting birds, nor 

 do fall songs compare in volume or execution with those 

 of spring. The call-note is a characteristic sharp clink. 



The White-throat is abundant, migrating and winter- 

 ing in companies which frequent bushy places, hedge- 

 rows and undergrowth generally. The nest is placed on 

 the ground or in bushes in late May or early June. The 

 e gg s ) 4-S in number, are bluish white, speckled or blotched 

 with brown. 



