Evening star., 1944-03-15
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeH.
"TAKOMA PARK

Dear Sir:
There Is large bird In my yard. It
scratches through the leaves like a
chicken and it has splotches on its
breast. The color Is brown. I know it
is too early for the thrush, so it can't
be the thrush. But do not know what
it Is.
II enjoy your writings, and read them
every day. Watching the birds has be-
come real diversion in our family,
thanks to your good work
Sincerely yours, L. j. r."
X
The bird in the yard is the fox
sparrow.
A few winter here, but mostly they
are seen in migration, beginning in early
March and lasting until about April 6.
In the fall they usually come to this
vicinity from October to November 81.
This is one of the largest and best
OF the numerous sparrow tribes. In
some sections Of the country 1t is
known as the fox-tail
1t has two color phases, the rufous
one being mostly seen hereabouts. The
gray phase shows the bird as olive
gray, the back and shoulders streaked
"ioAi pA o"l1. LII Vic 1Co plldSC VIC cliGllE Z
bird is brown, or red, with the spots or
splotches on the chest somewhat larger.
The fox sparrow is 6h inches long.
1t has large conical bill, very sharp
and strong. The nest, usually in Can
ada, Is on the ground, mostly under
evergreens. It is made of moss, grass
and small leaves. Feathers and leaves
are used for the lining. Four or five
laid po1o
chestnut.
An almost sure Identification of this
sparrow may be made when it scratches
through leaves for something to eat.
OF all the scratching birds, this is the
most active. Other scratchers are the
thrasher and the toWhee. None of them
kicks up such commotion.
The coloring is characteristic, too
Persons acquainted with foxes say that
the fox sparrow coloring much re-
sembleS a fox in his summer coat. At
any rate it is a marvellous color, rich
and satisfying to the eye
The bird eats mostly vegetable mat
ter, such as ragWeed seeds. 1t eats a
large quantity of wild fruits and a very
said to leave cultivated fruits alone.
X x
Experts tell us that when a flock of
fox sparrows are scratching through
leaves they all will fly into low branches
of nearby trees when disturbed and re-
main in plain sight.
This is opposite to the actions of most
sparrows, which normally fly into shrub
berry when frightened and keep very
still.
One would expect the fox sparrow to
be rather bold and it is except in it's
singing habits. It's song is very fine,
but seldom heard hereabouts.
The song consists of a series of notes
in a descending scale, very sweet and
pleasant The song has something
Warblerlike in it. 1t is rare song
however, so do not rely on the singing
as an identification mark The sureSt
way of naming it is to watch it and If
it scratches through leaves and has an
exceptional color, you may be sure of it.
In the spring it does most of its eat
ing Of insects, which it turns up under
old leaves. MillepedeS are its favorites
This is true Canadian, loving best
the forests of our great neighbor to the
north.
No one who has the opportunity to
watch it scratch should overlook it.
This is because Of the real zest which
it puts into the activity 1t is impossible
to watch the fox sparrow for as little
as 80 seconds without laughing at it.
This comical quality in its scratching
is difficult to define, but it is sure and
always brings down the house" It is
hard to say whether the bird is born
comedian as the blue Jay is, or whether
the humor is solely in the human who
is doing the looking. Outright fun Is
not common among birds and animals.
Mostly they take life very earnestly,
finding it very serious business at best.
Let us be thankful to the fox sparrow
for It's comic note.