238 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



During the spring migration the plaintive whistled song is 

 frequently heard. 



A single instance of this species summering in Alabama is 

 recorded by L. S. Golsan, who observed a pair near Prattville 

 on several occasions in June, 1921. No evidence of nesting, 

 however, was found.J 



Food habits. — This sparrow feeds largely upon seeds of 

 grass and weeds and on wild fruits and berries. It is particu- 

 larly fond of berries, which in summer and autumn compose 

 about a fourth of its food. At this time it eats the fruit of 

 the blueberry, wild cherry, mountain ash, greenbrier, straw- 

 berry, spice bush, wild sarsaparilla, elder, blackberry, dog- 

 wood, and high bush cranberry. The principal weed seeds 

 destroyed are those of ragweed and bindweed, these two ele- 

 ments forming a fourth of the food of the year. During 

 October, ragweed alone constitutes 45 per cent of the food 

 (Judd). The insect food comprises wasps, beetles, ants, and 

 weevils, including the boll weevil. 



[TREE SPARROW: Spkella arborea arborea (Wilson).* 



The tree sparrow is a northern hird, breeding in northern Canada 

 and wintering in the United States as far south as Arkansas and pos- 

 sibly northern Alabama. E. W. Graves has recorded it as common on 

 Sand Mountain, near Carpenter, in December,! but he now believes 

 that these records were based on erroneous identifications.] 



CHIPPING SPARROW: Spizella passerina passerina 

 (Bechstein) . 



State records. — The chipping sparrow is a common resident 

 in nearly all sections. It is migratory in the northern part 

 of its range, and during winter considerable numbers move 

 southward into Alabama and other Southern States. At that 

 season the species is abundant in the northern and middle 

 parts of the State, but is rather less numerous on the coast. 

 Large flock were seen at Auburn the first week in March and 

 on Sand Mountain in April and November, smaller numbers 

 at Jackson (February), Carlton (March), Barachias (Decem- 



ifGolsan, L. S., The Auk, vol. 39, p. 26S, 1922. 



'Spizella monticola monticols of the A. O. U. Check-list; for change of name sea 

 The Auk. vol. 37, p. 281, 1920. 



tBird-Lore, vol. 12. p. 80, 1010 ; vol. 14, p. 88, 1912. 



