Part 40

One of the smallest of the family, and found locally only on the Guadalupe Islands off the lower California coast, where they nest commonly in the pine groves, among the needles on the ground, or frequently protected by some overhanging stone. Their nest and eggs are the same as the others. Eggs bluish white, with fine dots of brown about the larger end (.77 × .60).

DESERT SPARROW. 573a. Amphispiza bilineata deserticola. 5¼ inches.

This is an abundant bird among the foothills of southwestern United States, in Texas, New Mexico and southern California. It is found in the hot desert plains, where it builds its nest in low bushes, of the sagebrush or cactus, within two or three feet of the ground. It is made up of twigs, roots and fine grass, and lined with feathers and horsehair. They lay three or four bluish white eggs (.72 × .55).

BELL SPARROW. 574. Amphispiza belli. 5¼ inches.

In the hot valleys and foothills of the southern half of California and in the Colorado Desert, south to Lower California, these grayish, black and white sparrows are found abundantly in localities where the sagebrush is common. They build their nests of roots and twigs, loosely put together, and usually lined with grass, feathers and horsehair, in the low sagebrush within two feet of the ground, or quite often placed on the ground under the cover of one of these bushes. They lay three or four pale greenish eggs, heavily blotched and spotted with shades of brown (.75 × .60).

SAGE SPARROW. 574.1. Amphispiza nevadensis. 6 inches.

These are a very quiet and shy sparrow, rarely singing except at their breeding season, and to be found commonly throughout the sage deserts of the Great Basin, from Oregon and Montana to Lower California and New Mexico. They nest either in small sagebrush or upon the ground, making their nests of shred from the sage and grasses, lining it with feathers and hair. They lay from three to four grayish eggs, with heavy markings of shades of brown about the larger end (.75 × .60).

CALIFORNIA SAGE SPARROW. 574.1b. Amphispiza n. canescens. 5½ inches.

Somewhat smaller than the last, and found from eastern California east to Nevada (not illustrated).

BOTTERI SPARROW. 576. Peucæa botterii. 6¼ inches.

A larger gray sparrow, streaked with brown, and black spots. A southern bird, found in Arizona, Texas and Mexico (not illustrated).

CASSIN SPARROW. 578. Peucæa cassini. 5½ inches.

Found on the arid plains from Texas to Kansas, where it breeds much the same as does the Sage Sparrow.

RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. 579. Aimophila carpalis. 5¼ inches.

This small and paler sparrow is found on the plains of Mexico and north to Arizona. In appearance and habits it is similar to the Chipping Sparrow, and the two are frequently found in the same locality. They nest in low bushes, making them of coarse grass and lined with down and hair, in which they place four sunmarked, bluish white eggs (.70 × .60).

RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW. 580. Aimophila ruficeps. 5½ inches.

Slightly larger than the former, and the color more of a brown streaked with darker, and still more of a reddish brown on the crown. It is found throughout California along the coast to Lower California. They build on the ground, concealing their nest in a clump of grass or under some bush. They lay from three to five pale bluish white, unmarked eggs (.80 × .60).

SONG SPARROW. 581. Melospiza melodia. 6¼ inches.

A bird of song, as the name indicates, and their song can be heard in every state of the Union and in Canada. This is the most subdivided of any of the bird family; more than twenty sub-species are listed, all having about the same song and general appearance. In some localities they will be a darker brown, and in the light desert sands they are very light in color. It is almost impossible to distinguish one from another even when in the hand. Their eggs also have the same variation, and cannot be positively identified one from another. They all build either in low bushes or upon the ground. Usually four eggs, greenish white, blotched and spotted with all shades and patterns of brown (.80 × .60).

HEERMANN SONG SPARROW. 581c. Melospiza m. heermanni. 6¼ inches.

Found in the central valleys of California, casually to Nevada.

RUSTY SONG SPARROW. 581e. Melospiza m. morphna. 6¼ inches.

In the Pacific Coast belt from Alaska to southern California.

LINCOLN SPARROW. 583. Melospiza lincolni. 5½ inches.

To be found most commonly in the central and western parts of North America, rare in the eastern part. In appearance they are very much like the Song Sparrow, but in their habits are more retiring, and keep more closely in the grass, and out of sight. They nest in tufts of grass within a few inches of the ground, or in a slight depression in the ground. The nest is made of twigs, roots and grasses. Their eggs are similar to the Song Sparrows; three or four in number, greenish white, heavily marked with brown (.80 × .58).

SHUMAGIN FOX SPARROW. 585a. Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis. 6½ inches.

These are large reddish brown sparrows, thickly marked with spots of darker brown on the back and under parts. They are to be found from Alaska to southern California.

Nest.—In low bushes near the ground. Four pale greenish eggs, marked with brown (.94 × .68).