Song of Spizella monticola
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1876.
(March 23 [March 23, 1876]) and the monotonous jingling discord of the
rusties [rusty blackbird] came up from the bushy thickets:
song sparrows were singing on all sides and
their migration is now probably at its height.
At least 100 tree sparrows were scattered along
the edges of the meadow and the males were
singing in full blast. Their song is remarkably
like that of the canary but shorter and though
not so strong and rich, surpassing it in wild
singing, unaffected sweetness. I think I have
never heard it to so good advantage before and
believe that I have never properly appreciated it.
It cannot however at its best be compared
with that superb song of Pas. iliaca [Passerella iliaca].
[delete]Juncos[/delete]The tree sparrows are starting N [north] as
the above mentioned flock was larger than any
that has spent the winter with us.
March 24 [March 24, 1876] Clear and a most lovely day. Got off directly
after breakfast and took a tramp over the
farm, returning home by way of Fresh p. [Fresh Pond]
Saw Juncos in abundance and heard their peculiar
spring notes everywhere. I say spring notes
because they seem to be altogether peculiar to
the early spring before their departure for the
N. [North]. The only song used by them in summer
is a simple and decidedly unmusical trill
but just at this season they are all wonderfully
busy practising up a performance which
apparently never comes to anything [delete]when attained[/delete]
To day after hearing them all the morning
I found a large flock in our apple orchard
on my return at noon, every male of 
which was apparently giving his entire