SPARROWS 



(585) Passerella iliaca iliaca 



{.1/frr.) fLat,, diminutive for a sparrow: 

 relating to the tlanks). 



FOX SPARROW. Legs and feet 

 unusually large even for so large a 

 sparrow. Plumage as shown, largely 

 a bright rufous, especially on the rump, 

 wings and tail; feathers of crown and 

 back broadly edged with gray; below 

 whitish, strongly streaked on breast 

 and sides with rufous. L., 7.00; W., 

 3.3s; T., 3.00; B., .45; Tar., .go. 

 Nest — Of weeds and grass, lined with 

 moss, hair and feathers; on the 

 ground or at low elevations in bushes; 

 four or five pale bluish-white eggs, 

 spotted with reddish-brown, .90 x .65. 



Range — Breeds from Newfound- 

 land, southern Keewatin, Man. and 

 Alberta north to the tree limit. Win- 

 ters from the Potomac and Ohio val- 

 'eys south to the Gulf. 



not unusually shy, they rarely appear above the dense under- 

 brush that covers their chosen retreats. If we follow them 

 into their lairs we may catch glimpses of them as they cross 

 mud flats or water lanes from one cover to another. They 

 are so darkly colored that there is little possibility of not 

 knowing them when seen. 



During spring and early summer they sing a great deal, 

 especially early in the morning. The song, while far from 

 musical, is quite distinctive and most resembles that of the 

 Chipping Sparrow but is louder and clearer. They breed in 

 suitable locahties anywhere in temperate North America, but 

 their presence is often unsuspected even where they are 

 abundant, for their haunts and rail-like habits are not such 

 as to command general attention. 



FOX SPARROWS are one of the largest species, nearly 

 as large as some of the thrushes. In fact I have often known 

 of their being mistaken for Hermit Thrushes and vice versa. 



326 



