Page 337 Savannah Sparrow. 541. Ipswich Sparrow. Passerculus princeps. Range.--Breeds on Sable Island, off Nova Scotia; winters on coast of South Atlantic States. This a large and pale colored form of the common Savannah Sparrow. Its nesting habits are similar to those of the latter and the eggs are marked the same but average larger. Size .80 × .60. 542. Aleutian Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis sandwichensis. Range.--Breeds on the Alaskan coast; winters south to northern California. Grayish White. A streaked Sparrow like the next but with the yellow superciliary line brighter and more extended. Its nesting habits are precisely like those of the next variety which is common and well known; the eggs are indistinguishable. 542a. Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Grayish White. Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Middle States north to Labrador and the Hudson Bay region. Similar to the last but with the superciliary line paler and the yellow reduced to a spot on the lores. Their nests are hollows in the ground, lined with grasses and generally concealed by tufts of grass or weeds. Their three to five eggs vary greatly in markings from finely and evenly dotted all over to very heavily blotched, the ground color being grayish white. Size .75 × .55 542b--543. 542b. Western Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. Range.--Western North America from Alaska to Mexico. A slightly paler form whose nesting habits and eggs do not differ from those of the last. 542c. Bryant's Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis bryanti. Range.--Salt marshes of California from San Francisco Bay south to Mexico. Slightly darker and brighter than the eastern Savannah Sparrow and with a more slender bill. The eggs are not different from many specimens of savanna; they are light greenish white heavily blotched with various shades of brown and lavender. Size .75 × .55. 543. Belding's Sparrow. Passerculus beldingi. Range.--Pacific coast marshes of southern California and southward. Grayish white. This species is similar to the last but darker and more heavily streaked below. They breed abundantly in salt marshes, building their nests in the grass or patches of seaweed barely above the water, and making them of grass and weeds, lined with hair; the eggs are dull grayish white, boldly splashed, spotted and clouded with brown and lavender. Size .78 × .55.





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 544--544c. 544. Large-billed Sparrow. Passerculus rostratus rostratus. Range.--Coast of southern and Lower California. Similar to the Savannah Sparrow but paler and grayer, without yellow lores and a larger and stouter bill. They are common in salt marshes, often in company with the last species and their nesting habits are similar to and the eggs not distinguished with certainty from those of the latter. 544a. San Lucas Sparrow. Passerculus rostratus guttatus. Range.--Southern Lower California. A slightly darker form of the preceding, having identical habits, and probably, eggs. 544c. San Benito Sparrow. Passerculus rostratus sanctorum. Range.--Breeds on San Benito Islands; winters in southern Lower California. The nesting habits and eggs of these very similar subspecies are identical. 545. Baird's Sparrow. Ammodramus bairdi. White. Range.--Plains, breeding from northern United States to the Saskatchewan; south in winter to the Mexican border. These Sparrows breed abundantly on the plains of Dakota and northward, placing their nest in hollows on the ground in fields and along road sides. During June or July, they lay three to five dull whitish eggs, blotched, splashed and spotted with light shades of brown and gray. Size .80 × .60. 546. Grasshopper Sparrow. Ammodramus savannarum australis. Baird's Sparrow.
Grasshopper Sparrow. Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to Canada. White. A stoutly built Sparrow marked on the upper parts peculiarly, like a quail; nape grayish and chestnut. These birds are common in dry fields and pastures, where their scarcely audible, grasshopper-like song is heard during the heat of the day. Their nests are sunken in the ground and arched over so that they are very difficult to find, especially as the bird will not flush until nearly trod upon. The four or five eggs, laid in June, are white, specked with reddish brown. Size .72 × .55. 546a. Western Grasshopper Sparrow. Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus Range.--West of the Plains from British Columbia to Mexico. Slightly paler than the last; has the same nesting habits; eggs indistinguishable.
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GRASSHOPPER SPARROW ON NEST.
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 Henslow's Sparrow.
Leconte's Sparrow. 546b. Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. Ammodramus savannarum floridanus. Range.--Central Florida. A local form, darker above and paler below than the common species. Eggs not different in any particular. 547. Henslow's Sparrow. Passerherbulus henslowi henslowi. Range.--United States east of the Plains, breeding locally from Maryland and Missouri north to Massachusetts and Minnesota. White. This species is similar in form and marking to the last, but is olive green on the nape, and the breast and sides are streaked with blackish. Their nesting habits are very similar to those of the Grasshopper Sparrow, the nests being difficult to find. The eggs are greenish white, spotted with reddish brown. Size .75 × .55. 547a. Western Henslow's Sparrow. Passerherbulus henslowi occidentalis. Range.--A paler and very local form found in the Plains in South Dakota and probably, adjoining states. Eggs not apt to differ from those of the preceding. 548. Leconte's Sparrow. Passerherbulus lecontei. Range.--Great Plains, breeding from northern United States to Assiniboia; winters south to Texas and the Gulf States. White. A bird of more slender form than the preceding, and with a long, graduated tail, the feathers of which are very narrow and pointed. They nest on the ground in damp meadows, but the eggs are difficult to find because the bird is flushed from the nest with great difficulty. The eggs are white and are freely specked with brown. Size .70 × .52. Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 549. Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Passerherbulus caudacutus. Range.--Breeds in marshes along the Atlantic coast from Maine to South Carolina and winters farther south. White. These birds are very common in nearly all the salt marshes of the coast, nesting in the marsh grass. I have nearly always found their nests attached to the coarse marsh grass a few inches above water at high tide, and generally under apiece of drifted seaweed. The nests are made of grasses, and the four or five eggs are whitish, thickly specked with reddish brown. Size .75 × .55. The birds are hard to flush and then fly but a few feet and quickly drop into the grass again.
Page 341 Seaside Sparrow.
Dusky Seaside Sparrow. 549.1. Nelson's Sparrow. Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni. Range.--Breeds in the fresh water marshes of the Mississippi valley from Illinois to Manitoba. This species is similar to the Sharp-tailed Finch but more buffy on the breast and generally without streaks. The nesting habits are the same and the eggs indistinguishable. 549.1a. Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Passerherbulus nelsoni subvirgatus. Range.--Breeds in the marshes on the coast of New England and New Brunswick; winters south to the South Atlantic States. This paler variety of Nelson's Sparrow nests like the Sharp-tailed species and the eggs are the same as those of that bird. 550. Seaside Sparrow. Passerherbulus maritimus maritimus. Range.--Atlantic coast, breeding from southern New England to Carolina and wintering farther south. White. This sharp-tailed Finch is uniform grayish above and light streaked with dusky, below. They are very abundant in the breeding range, where they nest in marshes in company with caudacutus. Their nests are the same as those of that species and the eggs similar but slightly larger. Size .80 x .60. Data.--Smith Island, Va., May 20, 1900. Nest situated in tall grass near shore; made of dried grass and seaweed. Collector, H. W. Bailey. All the members of this genus have a habit of fluttering out over the water, and then gliding back to their perch on the grass, on set wings, meanwhile uttering a strange rasping song. The nesting habits and eggs of all the subspecies are precisely like those of this variety, and they all occasionally arch their nests over, leaving an entrance on the side. 550a. Scott's Seaside Sparrow. Passerherbulus maritimus peninsulœ. Range.--Coasts of Florida and north to South Carolina. Above blackish streaked with brownish gray; below heavily streaked with black. 550b. Texas Seaside Sparrow. Passerherbulus maritimus sennetti. Range.--Coast of Texas. Similar to maritimus, but streaked above. 550c. Louisiana Seaside Sparrow. Passerherbulus maritimus fisheri. Range.--Gulf coast. This form is similar to peninsulœ, but darker and more brownish.




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 Lark Sparrow. 550d. Macgillivray's Seaside Sparrow. Passerherbulus maritimus macgillivrai. Range.--Coast of South Carolina. Like fisheri but grayer. 551. Dusky Seaside Sparrow. Passerherbulus nigrescens. Range.--Marshes of Indian River near Titusville, Florida. This species is the darkest of the genus, both above and below, being nearly black on the upperparts. Their habits are like those of the others and the eggs are not likely to differ. 552. Lark Sparrow. Chondestes grammacus grammacus. Range.--Mississippi Valley from the Plains to Illinois and casually farther east, and from Manitoba to Texas; winters in Mexico. White. This handsome Sparrow has the sides of the crown and ear patches chestnut, and the sides of the throat and a spot on the breast, black. They are sweet singers and very welcome birds in their range, where they are quite abundant. Their nests are generally placed on the ground in the midst of or under a clump of weeds or tuft of grass, but sometimes in bushes or even trees; they are made of grasses and weeds and the eggs, which are usually laid in May, are white marked chiefly about the large end with blackish zigzag lines and spots. Size .80 × .60. 552a. Western Lark Sparrow. Chondestes grammacus strigatus. Harris's Sparrow. Range.--United States west of the Plains; breeds from British Columbia to Mexico. This paler and duller colored variety is common on the Pacific coast; its habits and nests and eggs are like those of the last. 553. Harris's Sparrow. Zonotrichia querula. Range.--Mississippi Valley, chiefly west, breeding in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the exact range being unknown. Whitish. Although the birds are abundant during migrations, they seem to suddenly and strangely disappear during the breeding season. Supposed nests have been found a few inches above the ground in clumps of grass, the eggs being whitish, thickly spotted with shades of brown. Size .85 × .65.
Page 343 White-crowned Sparrow. 554. White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys. Range.--North America breeding abundantly in Labrador and about Hudson Bay, and casually in northern New England and in western United States in the Rockies and Sierras. Pale greenish blue. Winters along our Mexican border and southward. A handsome species with a broad white crown bordered on either side by black, and with a white superciliary line and black lores; the underparts are uniform grayish white. These birds appear to be nowhere as common as the White-throated Sparrows with which they associate during migrations and in the breeding grounds. They build on the ground, generally near the edges of woods or in clearings, and lay from four to six eggs similar but larger, and with as much variation in markings as those of the Song Sparrow; pale greenish blue, spotted and splashed with reddish brown and grayish. Size .90 × .65. Data.--Nachook, Labrador, June 10, 1897. Nest of fine grasses on the ground in a clump of grass. 554a. Gambel's Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli. Range.--Rocky Mountains and westward from Mexico to Alaska, breeding chiefly north of the United States. This bird is like the last but the lores are white. Its nesting habits and eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the former. 554a--557. 554b. Nuttall's Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli. Range.--Pacific coast from British Columbia to Lower California. Similar to the last but smaller and browner above; nests on the ground or in bushes, the eggs not being distinguishable from those of the other White-crowns. 557. Golden-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia coronata. Range.--Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska, breeding chiefly north of our borders. Pale greenish blue. This species has the crown yellow, bordered by black on the sides. Their habits are like those of the White-crowned Sparrows, they feeding upon the ground among the dead leaves, and usually being found in flocks and often accompanied by many of the last species. They nest upon the ground or in low bushes, and in May or June lay three or four eggs very similar to the last. Size .90 × .65.






Page 344
CHIPPING SPARROW.
Page 345 White-throated Sparrow. 558. White-throated Sparrow. Zonotrichia albicollis. Range.--North America east of the Plains and breeding from the northern tier of states northward; winters from the Middle States southward. White. To my mind this is the most beautiful of Sparrows, with its bright and softly blended plumage and the pure white throat boldly contrasting with its grayish breast and sides of the head; the lores are adorned with a bright yellow spot. They are one of the most abundant of Sparrows in the east during migrations and their musical piping whistle is heard from hedge and wood. They nest most abundantly north of our borders, laying their three or four eggs in grass lined hollows in the ground, or more rarely in nests in bushes. The eggs are white or bluish white, thickly spotted with several shades of brown. Size .85 × .62. They nest most often in thickets or on the edge of swamps, in just such places as they are met with on their migrations. 559. Tree Sparrow. Spizella monticola monticola. Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding north of the United States to the Arctic coast, east of the Rockies; winters within the United States. Greenish white. Tree Sparrow. A larger bird but somewhat resembling the common Chipping Sparrow, but browner above, with a black spot on the breast and no black on the head. They are quite hardy birds and winter in many of the northern states where they may be found in flocks upon the snow, feeding on seeds of protruding weeds. They breed very abundantly in Labrador and about Hudson Bay, placing their green nests in hollows on the ground or moss; their three or four eggs are greenish white, abundantly speckled all over the surface with reddish brown. Size .80 × .55. Data.--Foothills of Black Mountains, McKenzie River, Arctic America, June 13, 1899. Nest on the ground under a tuft of grass on level plain; made of grasses and moss and lined with feathers. 559a. Western Tree Sparrow. Spizella monticola ochracea. Range.--North America west of the Plains, breeding in Alaska and wintering to Mexico. A paler form of the last, the nesting habits and eggs of which are the same. 560. Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina passerina. Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to the interior of Canada and Newfoundland.




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 559a--560a. As indicated by their name socialis, Chipping Sparrows are sociable birds not only with others of the bird tribe, but with man. In all localities that are not overrun with English Sparrows, you will find these confiding birds nesting in trees and shrubs in the yard and in vines from porches, while in orchards, nearly every tree has its tenant. Bluish white. They are smaller birds than the last (5.5 in. long) and have the brown crown bordered by blackish and a black line through the eye. Their nests, which may be found at any height from the ground and in any kind of a tree or shrub, are made of fine grass and weed stems, lined with hair; their three to five eggs are a handsome greenish blue, sparingly specked chiefly about the large end with blackish brown and purplish. Size .70 × .52. 560a. Western Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina arizonæ. Range.--Western North America, chiefly west of the Rockies, from Mexico to Alaska; winters in Mexico. This variety is much duller colored than the last and has but little brown on the back; its nesting habits are the same and the eggs do not appear to differ in any respect from those of the eastern bird. 561. Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida. 561--562--564. Range.--Interior of United States and Canada, from the Mississippi Valley to the Rockies, breeding from Iowa and Colorado northward; winters in Mexico. Bluish white. These birds can best be described as like the Chipping Sparrow with the brown largely replaced with blackish. They breed quite abundantly in Manitoba and Minnesota, placing their nests on or near the ground, and making them of fine grasses. The eggs cannot be distinguished with certainty from those of the preceding but average a trifle smaller. Size .65 × .50. Data.--Barnsley, Manitoba, May 24, 1900. Nest of grass stalks lined with fine grass, one foot above ground in tuft of grass. 562. Brewer's Sparrow. Spizella breweri. Bluish white. Range.--Western United States from Mexico to British Columbia rarely and chiefly between the Rockies and the Sierras; most abundant in New Mexico and Arizona. This bird is similar to the last but is paler and more finely streaked. Their nesting habits are like those of pallida and the eggs are indistinguishable.