The Bird Book Part 81

Range.--San Clemente and Santa Rosa Island of the Santa Barbara group.

Slightly larger than the last; habits and eggs the same.

581j. DAKOTA SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia juddi._

Range.--North Dakota, breeding in the Turtle Mountains.

Practically indistinguishable from the common Song Sparrow; the eggs will not differ.

581k. MERRILL'S SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia merrilli._

Range.--Northwestern United States; eastern Oregon and Was.h.i.+ngton to Idaho.

Very similar to, but lighter than the Rusty Song Sparrow.

581l. ALAMEDA SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia pusillula_.

Range.--Salt marshes of San Francis...o...b..y, California.

Similar to, but still smaller than Samuel Song Sparrow. Eggs will not differ.

581m. SAN DIEGO SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia cooperi._

Range.--Southern coast of California; north to Monterey Bay.

Similar to, but smaller and lighter than _heermanni_.

581n. YAKUTAT SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia caurina._

Range.--Coast of Alaska from Cross Sound to Prince Williams Sound.

Similar to the Sooty Song Sparrow but larger and grayer. Eggs probably average larger.

581o. KENAI SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza Melodia kenaiensis._

Range.--Kenai Peninsula on the coasts.

Like the last but still larger; length about 7 inches.

581q. BISCHOFF'S SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia insignis._

Range.--Kadiak Island, Alaska.

Similar to and nearly as large as the next species, but browner.

581r. ALEUTIAN SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia sanaka._

Range.--Found on nearly all the islands of the Aleutian group, excluding Kadiak.

This is the largest of the Song Sparrows being nearly 8 inches in length; it is similar in appearance to the Sooty Song Sparrow but grayer. It nests either on the ground or at low elevations in bushes, the nest usually being concealed in a tuft of gra.s.s or often placed under rocks or, sometimes, driftwood along the sh.o.r.es. The nests are made of gra.s.ses and weed stems, and the eggs are similar to those of the Song Sparrow but much larger and more elongate. Size .90 .65.

[Ill.u.s.tration 357: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 356

583. LINCOLN'S SPARROW. _Melospiza lincolni lincolni._

Range.--North America, breeding from northern United States north to the Arctic regions; most abundant in the interior and the west; rare in New England.

This bird is shy and retiring and skulks off through the underbrush of thickets and swamps that it frequents upon the approach of anyone; consequently it is often little known in localities where it is quite abundant. They nest on the ground like Song Sparrows, and rarely in bushes. Their eggs are very similar to those of the Song Sparrow, three or four in number, greenish white in color, heavily spotted and blotched with chestnut and gray. Size .80 .58.

583a. FORBUSH'S SPARROW. _Melospiza lincolni striata._

Range.--Pacific coast of Oregon and British Columbia.

Similar to the preceding but darker and browner. Eggs probably like those of the last.

584. SWAMP SPARROW. _Melospiza georgiana._

Range.--North America, east of the Plains, breeding from middle United States north to Labrador and Hudson Bay.

This common and dark colored Sparrow frequents swampy places where it breeds; owing to its sly habits it is not commonly seen during the breeding season. Its nests are made of gra.s.ses and located on the ground usually in places where the walking is extremely treacherous. The eggs are similar to those of the Song Sparrow but are generally darker and more clouded and average smaller. Size .75 .55.

585. FOX SPARROW. _Pa.s.serella iliaca iliaca._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from southern Canada northward, and northwest to Alaska; winters in southern United States.

This large handsome species, with its mottled grayish and reddish brown plumage and bright rufous tail, is very common in eastern United States during migrations, being found in open woods and hedges in company with Juncos and White-throated Sparrows, with which species their song vies in sweetness. They nest usually on the ground, but sometimes in low bushes; the nests are made of gra.s.ses and are concealed beneath the overhanging branches of bushes or evergreens. The three or four eggs are greenish-white, spotted and blotched with brown. Size .94 .68.

[Ill.u.s.tration 358: Lincoln's Sparrow.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Swamp Sparrow.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]