SPARROWS 
395 
Nesting. On the ground in the grass. 
Distribution. The Great Plains of North America. In Canada, the southern prairies. 
Though widely distributed over the prairies, this species is rather 
local. It inhabits damp ground around sloughs, but is specially partial 
to dry alkaline flats a little back from shrinking pools. Amidst the great 
number of Savannah Sparrows and other small species in such places, it 
is very inconspicuous, as is indicated by the fact that, though the country 
it inhabits had been often visited by ornithologists, it was thirty years 
after the first specimen had been brought to the attention of science before 
the species was rediscovered as common in Colorado and Dakota. 
548. Leconte’s Sparrow, le pinson de leconte. Passerherbulus caudacatus. 
L, 5. A very small sparrow, streaked above and on flanks. Tail feathers sharp and 
tapering (Figure 476). Adult: crown, dark brown with greyish buff median stripe. Nape, 
vinaceous, with greyish edgings. Back, dark brown with light buff stripes. Suffused 
with ochre on breast, throat, and superciliary line. Grey cheeks, and a brown line back 
from eye. Abdomen white. Juveniles are streaky ochre and brown. More heavily 
streaked above; paling to nearly white on abdomen. finely striped across breast and on 
flanks, but clear elsewhere below. 
Distinctions. Among the smallest of the sparrows. Most likely to be confused with 
Nelson’s Sparrow. Adult separated from it by the vinaceous nape-band and lack of any 
tendency towards olive or green on back. The Grasshopper Sparrow has also a vinaceous 
nape, but the lesser wing-coverts and bend of wing are yellow. The juvenile of Leconte’s 
is very like that of Nelson’s, but is generally a paler ochre, lightening to almost white on 
abdomen, and finely but distinctly streaked across breast. 
Field Marks. A diminutive sparrow that gets up from the long grass, flies a short 
way, and drops into it again, is probably this or the next species. Only close observation 
of the colour characters above, or familiarity with their notes, will separate them in life. 
This species is not quite as closely confined to damp or wet ground as Nelson’s. 
Nesting. On the ground; nest of fine grass. 
Distribution. Central North America. In Canada, the Prairie Provinces, north 
occasionally to Great Slave Lake. Accidental in southern Ontario. 
A very inconspicuous bird that only a careful observer will note or 
identify. 
547. Henslow’s Sparrow, le pinson de henslow, Passerherbulus henslowi. 
L, 5. A very small grass sparrow. Back of head and lower neck yellowish olive, and back 
vinaceous; both colours streaked with short strokes of brown. Below, white, finely 
streaked across breast and on flanks with dark brown. Bill large for the size of the bird 
and tail feathers pointed. 
Distinctions. Olive and vinaceous ground colour of upper parts and fine streaking of 
breast. 
Field Marks. A small bird that runs in the grass and is very difficult to flush. Rises 
witli a quick, low, zigzag flight and drops back into the grass with unexpected suddenness. 
The best identification character in life is its note, a fine penetrating se-slick of such light 
volume as to be almost inaudible close at hand, yet decided enough to have considerable 
carrying power. 
Nesting. On ground, in nest of grass exceptionally well hidden. 
Distribution. Eastern United States, occurring in eastern Canada only in southern 
Ontario. The species has been taken in northern Minnesota just across the International 
Boundary at Pembina and may be expected to occur occasionally or irregularly in southern 
Manitoba as it is another species that fluctuates in number beyond the margins of its 
normal habitat as described under Carolina Wren, page 320. 
SUBSPECIES. Eastern Henslow’s Sparrow (le Pinson de Henslow de 1’Est) Passer- 
herbulus henslowi susurratis is the form of Ontario. The race to be expected in Manitoba 
is probably the Western Henslow’s Sparrow (le Pinson de Henslow r de l’Ouest) Passer- 
herbulus henslowi henslowi. 
One may be in the midst of quite a colony of Henslow’s Sparrows with- 
out knowing it, as they are rarely seen unless attention is directed to them 
by their notes. Waste grass-grown meadows are their favourite habitats. 
