14 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
Having paid us their spring visit they 
go on north. There they raise their fam¬ 
ilies then call again in September on their 
way to southern winter quarters. 
WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW 
You are most apt to find Western Sa¬ 
vanna Sparrows on the tide flats, though 
they have been found on upland meadows. 
They are modest brown and grey birds 
striped in a 12 radiating pattern. 
They usually nest in colonies of half a 
dozen pairs. You may look for the nest 
in May or June in grassy spots and count 
yourself lucky if you find it. 
These sparrows’ shyness makes them 
very hard to study. When you are walk¬ 
ing through the salt marshes you may 
flush them but they will zigzag at once for 
the nearest cover. 
Their song reminds you of a grass¬ 
hopper in its, “Ptsip, ptsip, se-e, e-e-e-e.” 
WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW 
