Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-12-13
The Tree sparrow.

The Tree Sparrow.
,Rv william butcher, President National
xssocistion Of Audubon Societies. Re-
printed from Bird Loss-l
DESCRIPTION.
Aduu.-The entire crown and back Of head
h,isht chestnut. In winter most OF the
fathers with very narrow edging Of pale
bun, which, wearing on BY spring, leaves the
crown uniform chestnut; line over eye, sides
AZ head and neck gray, this collar extending
inward forming . narrow collar; back rusty,
Zach feather having . broad central stripe
Of black, giving = decidedly streaksd appear
apce: lower back and rump brownish gray,
the upper tail coverts being narrow edged
with white; under parts, throat and upper
breast light gray. fading 70 almost white ON
lower breast and abdomen, the sides and
tanks being washed with pale brown; on
middle OF breast blackish spot or blotch;
wing quilts dark brown; the coverts showing
agreat amount Of rusty, each feather with .
broad central black stripe, similar TO pattern
on back, all widely -mar gincd with white,
thus forming two conspicuous white wing
bar; tail dark brown. the two outside feathers
much lighter, all having very narrow whitish
edges; legs brown; feet and claws black; bill,
upper mandible and tip Of lower one nearly
black, remaining two thirds Of latter yellow.
sise.-From tip Of bill 70 end Of tail from
Eve and one-half 70 six inches.
Nes,.-Is built Of Ane grasses. rootlets, hair,
feathers, ETC., and 10 placed on or near the
ground.
Hggs.-From three to Ave in number, pale
sreenish blue speckled or spotted with red
dish brown.
Distribssion.-Th tree sparrows are found
during the breeding season north Of the
United States, In Newfoundland, Labrador
and the region about Hudson bay. while the
western race breeds from the valley Of Auder-
son river. westward through Alaska. How
far south the tree sparrows breed is very In
definitely known, therefore data on this point
are desirable and important. After the
breeding reason these birds migrate south
ward and reach tho Carolinas and westward
as far ~ middle Texas, Arizona, Utah and
Oregon.
The tree sparrow, Or winter chippy, is
member OF the very widely distributed
and numerous family OF the fringillid@,
which contains over five hundred and fifty
StSTSiucv SAoS oAV sOaAd Al hi RDAbAonb Va
the world except the Australian region.
OF these, North America claims no less
than thirty-three genera, and one hum
dred and eighty-nine species and sub
species. This family contains all the
finches, buntings, grosbeaks, crossbills,
spsrrows, linnets and siskins. While
many OF these are dull colored, yet other
members OF the family are noted for their
exceptionally beautiful and striking plum
age, a. the rose breasted aud blue gros-
beaks, goldfnch, cardinal, indigo and
painted buntings, etc.
This family also includes some Of the
best OF the singing birds, and, with few
exceptions, its members may be included
among the birds that sre economically Of
the greatest value to the human race. The
bills OF the sparrows, fnches, and other
members of the family, while widely d.
versified in form, are always stout and
strong and adapted to crushing or opening
seed capsules for the fruit within them.
Seeds constitute the largest part OF the
food supply Of all the members OF this
great family. By Watching . canary,
prominent and well-known member OF
the family, one can see how deity and
easily . seed il cracked and the meat is
extracted.
The tree sparrow il very common, and
should be = well-known winter bird
throughout large section OF the United
States. It associates freely with the junco,
and does not hesitate to visit dooryards
and gardens, cleaning from them weed
and other seeds, all the while giving voice
to contented and happy notes OF thanks
giving for food and pleasant companions.
Among the experiences OF every bird lover
there are incidents that stand our promi-
nently like landmarks and are never ef-
faced from the memory. The name tree
sparrow always recalls to the writer 9
beautiful winter picture seen many years
since. There had been almost blizzard,
such . storm q Whittier describes in
.'Snow Bound.
The morning after the storm the sun
was shining with that peculiar winter
brilliancy when the air seems to sparkle