SPARROWS 237 



WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: Zomtrichia leucophrys 

 (J. R. Forster). 



State records. — The white-crowned sparrow migrates chief- 

 ly throughout the Mississippi Valley and westward, but is of 

 casual occurrence in the Atlantic States. It is apparently 

 very rare in Alabama, only two instances being known : R. H. 

 Dean observed one bird at Anniston, November 12, 1916, and 

 E. W. Graves saw one on Sand Mountain, near Carpenter, 

 April 26, 1917. 



General habits. — This species is similar in habits to the well- 

 known white-throated sparrow. In winter it is found in smalt 

 flocks, frequenting hedges, thickets, and low grounds grown 

 up to rank grass and weeds. 



WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: Zonotrichia albicollis 



(Gmelin). 



State records. — The white-throated sparrow occurs as an 

 abundant migrant and winter resident. It has been observed 

 in numbers at Jasper, Tuscaloosa, Autaugaville, Auburn, 

 Dothan, Jackson, York, Ashford, and other places. Near the 

 coast it is less common, only one having been seen at Orange 

 Beach (December 8, 1915), and only a few at Mobile (March 

 24, 1912). James Newton Baskett, however, found the bird 

 abundant in winter at Mobile.f 



Migrants from the north are recorded as arriving at Greens- 

 boro, October 14 (1889), October 25 (1890), and October 27 

 (1893) ; and at Autaugaville, October 17 (1915). In spring 

 the bulk of the birds leave by the last week of April, but a few 

 linger even into May. I found them common at Leighton, 

 May 1, saw a few at Florence, May 8 (1912) , and one at Pratt- 

 ville Junction, May 9 (1914). 



General habits. — The white-throat is found in winter in 

 scattered flocks, chiefly in hedges, brush piles, thickets, and 

 the borders of woodland. It is a quiet, industrious bird, 

 spending much of its time in thickets scratching for food 

 among the dry leaves. If alarmed, the birds fly up into the 

 underbrush and give their characteristic metallic alarm note. 



tWilson Bull., vol. 6, p. 36, 1899. 



