SPARROWS 
401 
Distinctions. Like a Chipping Sparrow in size, but crown sharply streaked like back. 
No black bar through eye, but a brown one back from it, and conspicuously brownish, 
dusky ear-coverts. Juvenile birds, lately from nest, are very similar to young Chipping 
Sparrows of the same age, but the breast is usually suffused with the buffy of flanks and 
the dark breast streaks are less sharp, fewer, or even absent. The only other species the 
Clay-coloured is likely to be mistaken for in Canada is Brewer's Sparrow, which see. 
Field Marks. An inconspicuous, pale, earthy coloured little sparrow like a Chipping 
Sparrow, but without the strongly characterized face and crown-marks of that species. 
Instead, the ear-coverts are brownish and are more conspicuous for being lightly lined 
with darker above and below. It may be best recognized by its song, a low, flat U buz-buz- 
buz” that can be confused with no other bird song on our prairies. 
Nesting. On the ground or in low bushes, in nest of grasses lined with hairs. 
Distribution. The interior of North America. In Canada, the Prairie Provinces 
eastward to north of Lake Superior, and northward to Creat Slave Lake, breeding wherever 
found. It has been taken once in Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, and is occasional 
in southern Ontario. 
A very typical prairie bird, found wherever a little tangle of rose 
canes, sage brush, or wolf willow furnishes a suggestion of shelter. It is 
characterless in colour. Its song, though very distinctive, is flat and 
insect-like, and were it not a very common and relatively confiding little 
bird, it would be easily overlooked. 
Economic Status. As a weed and insect eater it must rank close to 
the Chipping Sparrow, which it closely resembles in habit, but no detailed 
study of its food is at present available. 
5(52. Brewer’s Sparrow, lb phstson de brewer. Spizella breweri. L , 5-4. A 
small sparrow, of the same general size and appearance as the Clay-coloured ( See Plate 
LXXXIV A), but even more inconspicuously coloured. Evenly streaked in dull ashy 
and brown all above, and dull white below. Like a faded Clay-coloured Simrrow, without 
decided cheek patch or suggestion of median crown stripe. 
Distinctions. Most likely to be mistaken for the Clay-coloured Sparrow, except as 
above. The crown is evenly streaked and there is no decided cheek patch. The adult 
is very like the juvenile Chipping Sparrow but for its general grey coloration, and it lacks 
the striping of the breast. When in similar striped juvenile condition, the two species 
probably can only be separated by the expert. 
Field Marks. Like a Clay-coloured Sparrow, but paler and duller, with softly blended 
ashy brown face, without evident cheek patch. Best recognized by its song, a “buz-buz- 
buz, n not as flat as that of the Clay-coloured, but approaching the Chipping Sparrow in 
quality. This is often immediately followed by a long succession of twittering notes, 
suggesting the conclusion of the song of the Vesper Sparrow. 
Nesting. In low brush; nest of grasses and fine plant fibres. 
Distribution. Western North America. In Canada, occurring locally in heavy sage 
brush land in southern and northern British Columbia, and southern Alberta and Saskat- 
chewan. Occasionally as far north as Jasper Park. This is a very obscure little sparrow 
of the sage brush. It is very local and by eyesight alone would often be passed over amongst 
the many Clay-coloured Sparrows that it associates with in similar situations. It can 
hardly be overlooked, however, by one familiar with the bird songs of the sage brush. 
SUBSPECIES. The generally distributed form of the species is the common Brewer’s 
Sparrow (le Pinson de Brewer) Spizella breweri breweri. A race of Brewer’s Sparrow 
has lately been described from Atlin region, northwestern British Columbia, as the Timber- 
line Sparrow (le Pinson alpin de Brewer) Spizella taverneri. It has since been taken in 
migration in Okanagan Valley and at Chilliwack, British Columbia. In spite of the 
apparent discontinuous distribution it has probably correctly been reduced to a subspecies, 
Spizella breweri taverneri. 
563. Field Sparrow, le pinson des champs. Spizella pusilla. L, 6-68. A small 
sparrow of the same general colour as the Chipping, but with the colours subdued, suffused, 
and blended. The red crown is darker and inconspicuous and there is no line of black 
through the eye. The bill is cinnamon coloured instead of black. 
Distinctions. The above distinctions are sufficient to distinguish this bird. 
