FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(S87) Plpilo erythropthalmus 

 erythropthalmus 



(Linn.) (Lat.. peep; Gr., red eye). 

 TOWHEE; CHEWINK. Iris red. 

 Ad <f — Plumage as shown by the 

 lower bird, chiefly black; bases of pri- 

 maries, edges of tertials, belly and 

 ends of outer tail feathers white; 

 flanks chestnut; under tail coverts 

 buffy. Ad. 9 — As shown by the 

 upper bird; brown in place of the 

 black on the male. L., 8.25; W., 

 3.40; T., 3.90; B., ,55; Tar., 1.05. 

 Nest — Of leaves, strips of bark and 

 grasses; on or near the ground in 

 brush or woods. 



Range — Breeds from Me., Ont. 

 and Sask. south to Ga. and Kan. 

 (S87a) WHITE-EYED TOWHEE 

 (P. e. alleni). White eyes and less 

 white on tail. Coast region from 

 S. Car. to Fla. 



Their size and plumpness readily distinguish them from any 

 other sparrows, while the brightly spotted breast, bright 

 rufous tail, and gray and rufous back and head should easily 

 determine it from any thrush even if the short characteristic 

 sparrow bill cannot be seen. 



They pass through the Northern States on their way to 

 interior Canada with the early migrants during April, travel- 

 ling in companies and feeding in swamps, thickets and copses. 

 Their plumage so closely resembles the dead leaves among 

 which they scratch so lustily that you have to look sharply 

 to see them, but if you approach too near they will hop to 

 low branches or twigs and "tseep" at you. Early of morn- 

 ings and toward dusk you can usually hear them tuning up 

 and, as the individual songs are clear and sweet, the effect of 

 singing in chorus is very pleasing to the ears. 



TOWHEES prove their close relationship to sparrows by 

 the shape of their beaks but there can be no comparison of the 

 plumages. The sparrows show little or no sexual differences 



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