Bird Families 
Purple Grackle. 
Bronzed Grackle. 
Cowbird. 
Meadow Lark. 
Western Meadow Lark. 
Bobolink. 
Orchard Oriole. 
Baltimore Oriole. 
Family Fringillidce : FINCHES, SPARROWS, GROSBEAKS, 
BUNTINGS, LINNETS, AND CROSSBILLS 
Generally fine songsters. Bills conical, short, and stout for 
cracking seeds. Length from five to nine inches, usually under 
eight inches. This, the largest family of birds that we have 
(about one-seventh of all our birds belong to it), comprises birds 
of such varied plumage and habit that, while certain family re- 
semblances may be traced throughout, it is almost impossible to 
characterize the family as such. The sparrows are comparatively 
small gray and brown birds with striped upper parts, lighter 
underneath. Birds of the ground, or not far from it, elevated 
perches being chosen for rest and song. Nest in low bushes or 
on the ground. (Chipping sparrow often selects tall trees.) 
Coloring adapted to grassy, dusty habitats. Males and females 
similar. Flight labored. About forty species of sparrows are 
found in the United States ; of these, fourteen may be met with 
by a novice, and six, at least, surely will be. 
The finches and their larger kin are chiefly bright-plumaged 
birds, the females either duller or distinct from males ; bills 
heavy, dull, and conical, befitting seed eaters. Not so migratory 
as insectivorous birds nor so restless. Mostly phlegmatic in 
temperament. Fine songsters. 
Chipping Sparrow. 
English Sparrow. 
Field Sparrow. 
Fox Sparrow. 
Grasshopper Sparrow. 
Savanna Sparrow. 
Seaside Sparrow. 
Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 
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