Evening star., 1945-05-22
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceUeH.
RENO ROAD

Dear Sir:
For several years have thought of
writing you regarding a certain bird
which came to my feeding station in
April of two succeeding years, but has
not been seen this year.
Il was hospitalized in February and
part Of March, but my recollection is
that he came early in April.
This bird is the size and color of
thee sparrow, but has beautifully
marked head Of three black and three
white stripes, but the outstanding fea-
ture was tuft of yellow feathers over
each eye.
He seemed to be all by himself,
never mixing in with the sparrows, al
though many would be at the station
at the same time. He would be in a
corner Of the windowsill by himself.
i had so hoped to see him again this
year, but suppose the little fellow has
perhaps died. Can you identify this
bird for me? I would appreciate it
very much, as I have tried to identify
him in my bird book without success.
Respectfully, M. D. B."
This bird was the hite-throated
sparrow, which is a common winter
resident and abundant migrant here
abouts
The yellow noted by our correspond
ent Is very much more conspicuous in
the spring than in the winter. 1t is
a part OF the counting colors
Ofdcial description of the male Is
as follows: Grown, black divided CEN
trally by a line or narrow stripe of
white; broad stripe over eye, bright
yellow anteriorly from bill to above
eyes,, white posteriorly; broad streak
of black behind eye; ear and under eye
region, plain gray: conspicuous white
patch covering chin, upper throat and
greater part of cheek region; this white
patch abruptly defined below against
the gray of lower throat and chest"
Some white-throated, as they are
familiarly called, remain all winter
Those which come to us by migration
usually arrive from the South about
April IS. and are fairly abundant until
the second week in May.
Most of the migrating birds were
about a week ahead of their normal
schedule this spring.
This is the famous Peabody bird" Of
the New England States. Other names
for 1t are cherrybird, Canada bird, Can
ada sparrow, Peverly bird and night
ingale.
Observers regard this as the best look
ing of all sparrows, and one of the
sweetest singers.
The song is plaintative thing, be-
ginning with long note, then rising
four intervals to a note of similar
length, followed by series of notes
on the same pitch.
It somewhat resembles the song of the
Maryland yellow throat, except that the
latter slides down about four inter-
walls for his succession Of notes.
There is pathetic something to the
song of the white throated sparrow
which always attracts the attention of
bird lovers and musicians alike.
"Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Pea
body is one way in which this song
has been rendered. "Sow wheat, Pew
erly, Peverly, Peverly," is another.
Both are based on New England legends.
1t may be realized that one hears in
the song what one wishes to hear. Ac-
tually the bird is not talking English
or American either.
He is just singing, and a fine little
song IL Is, puJ 10 our ear much less en-
chanting than the song of the song
sparrow.
1t may be realized that the white
throated sparrow is very much at home
with the common sparrows, and is not
afraid Of them, and is never attacked
by them.
The bird destroys many weed seeds,
as well as insects. Hence, 1t Is a good
one to have around.
Stewart Edward White, in one of his
books, gives the way he heard the
white-throated sparrow's song as, "Ah!
Poor Canada, Canada, Canada"
No matter what the bird says" it
is a beautiful small creature, replete
with all the mystery and fascination of
bird life. 1t is one of the best of the
sparrows. and that means one of the
best Of birds.