Field Marks. The smallest sparrow nesting in our state. Top of 
head reddish brown. 
Song. An insect like trill varying a little in tone from that of a 
locust, "Tr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r." A monotonous chippy-chippy-chippy- 
chippy-chippy, rather high and wiry. 
Of trustful disposition the chipping sparrow is a familiar bird, 
coming close to the houses and often building his nest of hair within a 
few feet of the windows or doors. Bradford Torrey says this bird 
might well be called the "doorstep sparrow." His tameness gives us an 
' excellent opportunity to study his habits. The school children can do 
so with profit and pleasure especially if chippy begins the acquaintance- 
ship by taking up his abode near the house. 
Florence Merriam says as a seed eater he destroys the foxtail and 
crab grass that disfigures our lawns, and he helps, too, to free our prem- 
ises of pigweed, chickweed, and knotweed; while as an insect eater he 
does us a good turn by eating cabbage worms and caterpillars. 
FIELD SF ARROW— (Spkella pusilla.) 
Bill reddish brown or flesh colored; top of head reddish brown, a 
gray line over the eye; back reddish brown, finely streaked with black; 
under parts white or huffy, unspotted; whitish wing bars; tail longer 
than wings; very light colored feet. 
Length about five and one-half inches. 
Arrival. xA.pril lo to 20. 
Favorite Haunts. In dry pastures and on bushy hill-sides. 
Field Marks. The field sparrow may be distinguished from the 
chippy sparrow which he much resembles by the reddish brown color and 
the reddish bill, the bill of the chippy being black. The tail is longer than 
the chippy's. 
Song. "Cher-wee, cher-wee, cher, wee, cher wee, chee-o, de-de-de-de- 
de," the last notes joined in a trill.— Chapman. "Fe-o, fe-o, fe-o, few, 
few, few, fee, fee, fee," uttered at first high and leisurely but running 
very rapidly at the close which is low and soft.— Burroughs. "Whee- 
whee-whee (whistles) iddle-iddle-ee" (trills). "Its notes are sweet and 
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