622 
A YEAR WITH THE BIRDS 
Slate-colored Junco: Junco hy emails. W. V. 
Snowbird 
Length: 6-6.50 inches. 
Male and Female: Dark bluish slate all over, except lower breast and 
belly, which are grayish white and form a vest. Several outer 
tail feathers white, conspicuous in flying. Female, with a more 
rusty cast and vest less distinct. Bill flesh-white, dusky at tip. 
Song: A crisp call note, a simple trill, and a faint whispering warble, 
usually much broken, but not without sweetness. (Bicknell.) 
Song sometimes heard before it leaves in spring. 
Season: Common winter resident; late September to April. 
Nest: On ground, Sparrow-like. 
Eggs: 4-6, white, peppered with reddish brown. 
Better far, ah, yes, than no bird 
Is the ever-present Snowbird; 
Gayly tripping, dainty creature, 
Where the snow hides every feature, 
Covers fences, field, and tree, 
Clothes in white all things but thee. 
Restless, twittering, trusty Snowbird, 
Lighter heart than thine has no bird. 
— C. C. Abbott 
Song Sparrow: Melospiza fasciata. R. 
Length: 6-6.50 inches. 
Male and Female: Brown poll, somewhat striped. Above gray and 
brown, thickly striped. Gray stripe over eye; brown stripe each 
side of throat; dark stripes across upper breast, forming a black 
spot in front. Beneath gray, slightly striped. Bill dark brown; 
feet pale brown. 
Song: “ Olit, olit, olit — chip, chip, chip, che-char — che-wiss, wiss, 
wiss!” (Thoreau, “Walden.”) “Maids, maids, maids, hang on 
your teakettle-ettle-ettle ! ” (A local interpretation. Thoreau, 
“ Summer.”) 
Season: March until November. Individuals remain through the year. 
Nest: Location variable; on ground or in low bush. 
Eggs: Grayish white, spotted, marked, and clouded with browns and 
lavender. 
The Song Sparrow is the darling among the Song-birds ; 
the Goldfinch’s gay coat, the Bluebird’s confidential murmur, 
or the melody of the Thrushes cannot rival him in our affec- 
tions, even though they may possess superior qualities. Plain 
as his coat is, he carries his identity in the little black streaks 
that form two spots on his breast, and all the year we may 
hope to hear his simple domestic ballad. Thoreau says : 
