bird neighbors-第26章

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h　America；　from　Hudson　Bay　to　Mexico。　　　Winters　south　of　Illinois　and　Virginia。　Migrations　　April。　October。　A　few　remain　in　sheltered　marshes　　　at　the　north　all　winter。

Look　for　the　savanna　sparrow　in　salt　marshes；　marshy　or　upland　pastures；　never　far　inland；　and　if　you　see　a　sparrowy　bird；　unusually　white　and　heavily　streaked　beneath；　and　with　pale　yellow　markings　about　the　eye　and　on　the　bend　of　the　wing；　you　may　still　make　several　guesses　at　its　identity　before　the　weak；　little　insect…like　trill　finally　establishes　it。　Whoever　can　correctly　name　every　sparrow　and　warbler　on　sight　is　a　person　to　be　envied；　if；　indeed；　he　exists　at　all。

In　the　lowlands　of　Nova　Scotia　and；　in　fact；　of　all　the　maritime　provinces；　this　sparrow　is　the　one　that　is　perhaps　most　commonly　seen。　Every　fence…rail　has　one　perched　upon　it；　singing　〃Ptsip；　ptsip；　ptsip；　ze…e…e…e…e〃　close　to　the　ear　of　the　passer…by；　who　otherwise　might　not　hear　the　low　grasshopper…like　song。　At　the　north　the　bird　somehow　loses　the　shyness　that　makes　it　comparatively　little　known　farther　south。　Depending　upon　the　scrub　and　grass　to　conceal　it；　you　may　almost　tread　upon　it　before　it　startles　you　by　its　sudden　rising　with　a　whirring　noise；　only　to　drop　to　the　ground　again　just　a　few　yards　farther　away；　where　it　scuds　among　the　underbrush　and　is　lost　to　sight　Tall　weeds　and　fence…rails　are　as　high　and　exposed　situations　as　it　is　likely　to　select　while　singing。　It　is　most　distinctively　a　ground　bird；　and　flat　upon　the　pasture　or　in　a　slightly　hollowed　cup　it　has　the　merest　apology　for　a　nest。　Only　a　few　wisps　of　grass　are　laid　in　the　cavity　to　receive　the　pale…green　eggs；　that　are　covered　most　curiously　with　blotches　of　brown　of　many　shapes　and　tints。


SEASIDE　SPARROW　（Ammodramus　maritimus）　Finch　family

Called　also：　MEADOW　CHIPPY；　SEASIDE　FINCH

Length　　6　inches。　A　shade　smaller　than　the　English　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　dusky　grayish　or　olivaceous　brown；　　　inclining　to　gray　on　shoulders　and　on　edges　of　some　feathers。　　　Wings　and　tail　darkest。　Throat　yellowish　white；　shading　to　gray　　　on　breast；　which　is　indistinctly　mottled　and　streaked。　A　yellow　　　spot　before　the　eye　and　on　bend　of　the　wing；　the　bird's　　　characteristic　marks。　Blunt　tail。　Range　　Atlantic　seaboard；　from　Georgia　northward。　Usually　　　Winters　south　of　Virginia。　Migrations　　April。　November。　A　few　remain　in　sheltered　marshes　　　all　winter。

The　savanna；　the　swamp；　the　sharp…tailed；　and　the　song　sparrows　may　all　sometimes　be　found　in　the　haunts　of　the　seaside　sparrow；　but　you　may　be　certain　of　finding　the　latter　nowhere　else　than　in　the　salt　marshes　within　sight　or　sound　of　the　sea。　It　is　a　dingy　little　bird；　with　the　least　definite　coloring　of　all　the　sparrows　that　have　maritime　inclinations；　with　no　rufous　tint　in　its　feathers；　and　less　distinct　streakings　on　the　breast　than　any　of　them。　It　has　no　black　markings　on　the　back。

Good…sized　flocks　of　seaside　sparrows　live　together　in　the　marshes；　but　they　spend　so　much　of　their　time　on　the　ground；　running　about　among　the　reeds　and　grasses；　whose　seeds　and　insect　parasites　they　feed　upon；　that　not　until　some　unusual　disturbance　in　the　quiet　place　flushes　them　does　the　intruder　suspect　their　presence；　Hunters　after　beach…birds；　longshoremen；　seaside　cottagers；　and　whoever　follows　the　windings　of　a　creek　through　the　salt　meadows　to　catch　crabs　and　eels　in　midsummer；　are　well　acquainted　with　the　〃meadow　chippies；〃　as　the　fishermen　call　them。　They　keep　up　a　good　deal　of　chirping；　sparrow…fashion；　and　have　four　or　five　notes　resembling　a　song　that　is　usually　delivered　from　a　tall　reed　stalk；　where　the　bird　sways　and　balances　until　his　husky　performance　has　ended；　when　down　he　drops　upon　the　ground　out　of　sight。　Sometimes；　too；　these　notes　are　uttered　while　the　bird　flutters　in　the　air　above　the　tops　of　the　sedges。


SHARP…TAILED　SPARROW　（Ammodramus　caudacutus）　Finch　family

Length　　5。25　to　5。85　inches。　A　trifle　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　brownish　or　grayish　olive；　the　　　back　with　black　streaks；　and　gray　edges　to　some　feathers。　A　　　gray　line　through　centre　of　crown；　which　has　maroon　stripes；　　　gray　ears　enclosed　by　buff　lines；　one　of　which　passes　through　　　the　eye　and　one　on　side　of　throat；　brownish　orange；　or　buff；　on　　　sides　of　head。　Bend　of　the　wing　yellow。　Breast　and　sides　pale　　　buff；　distinctly　streaked　with　black。　Underneath　whitish。　Each　　　narrow　quill　of　tail　is　sharply　pointed。　the　outer　ones　　　shortest。　Range　　Atlantic　coast。　Winters　south　of　Virginia。　Migrations　　April。　November。　Summer　resident。

This　bird　delights　in　the　company　of　the　dull…colored　seaside　sparrow；　whose　haunts　in　the　salt　marshes　it　frequents；　especially　the　drier　parts；　but　its　pointed　tail…quills　and　more　distinct　markings　are　sufficient　to　prevent　confusion。　Mr。　J。　Dwight；　Jr。；　who　has　made　a　special　study　of　maritime　birds；　says　of　it：　〃It　runs　about　among　the　reeds　and　grasses　with　the　celerity　of　a　mouse；　and　it　is　not　apt　to　take　wing　unless　closely　pressed。〃　（Wilson　credited　it　with　the　nimbleness　of　a　sandpiper。）　〃It　builds　its　nest　in　the　tussocks　on　the　bank　of　a　ditch；　or　in　the　drift　left　by　the　tide；　rather　than　in　the　grassier　sites　chosen　by　its　neighbors；　the　seaside　sparrows。〃

Only　rarely　does　one　get　a　glimpse　of　this　shy　little　bird；　that　darts　out　of　sight　like　a　flash　at　the　first　approach。　Balancing　on　a　cat…tail　stalk　or　perched　upon　a　bit　of　driftwood；　it　makes　a　feeble；　husky　attempt　to　sing　a　few　notes；　and　during　the　brief　performance　the　opera…glasses　may　search　it　out　successfully。　While　it　feeds　upon　the　bits　of　sea…food　washed　ashore　to　the　edge　of　the　marshes；　it　gives　us　perhaps　the　best　chance　we　ever　get；　outside　of　a　museum；　to　study　the　bird's　characteristics　of　plumage。

〃Both　the　sharp…tailed　and　the　seaside　finches　are　crepuscular；〃　says　Dr。　Abbott；　in　〃The　Birds　About　Us。〃　They　run　up　and　down　the　reeds　and　on　the　water's　edge　long　after　most　birds　have　gone　to　sleep。


SONG　SPARROW　（Melospiza　fasciata）　Finch　family

Length　　6　to　6。5　inches。　About　the　same　size　as　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Brown　head；　with　three　longitudinal　gray　bands　　　Brown　stripe　on　sides　of　throat。　Brownish…gray　back　streaked　　　With　rufous。　Underneath　gray；　shading　to　white；　heavily　　　streaked　with　darkest　brown。　A　black　spot　on　breast。　Wings　　　without　bars。　Tail　plain　grayish　brown。　Range　　North　America；　from　Fur　Countries　to　the　Gulf　States。　　　Winters　from　southern　Illinois　and　Massachusetts　to　the　Gulf。　Migrations　　March。　November。　A　few　birds　remain　at　the　north　　　All　the　year。

Here　is　a　veritable　bird　neighbor；　if　ever　there　was　one；　at　home　in　our　gardens　and　hedges；　not　often　farther　away　than　the　roadside；　abundant　everywhere　during　nearly　every　month　in　the　year；　and　yet　was　there　ever　one　too　many？　There　is　scarcely　an　hour　in　the　day；　too；　when　its　delicious；　ecstatic　song　may　not　be　heard；　in　the　darkness　of　midnight；　just　before　dawn；　when　its　voice　is　almost　the　first　to　respond　to　the　chipping　sparrow's　wiry　trill　and　the　robin's　warble；　in　the　cool　of　the　morning；　the　heat　of　noon；　the　hush　of　evening　　ever　the　simple；　homely；　sweet　melody　that　every　good　American　has　learned　to　love　in　childhood。　What　the　bird　lacks　in　beauty　it　abundantly　makes　up　in　good　cheer。　Not　at　all　retiring；　though　never　bold；　it　chooses　some　conspicuous　perch　on　a　bush　or　tree　to　deliver　its　outburst　of　song；　and　sings　away　with　serene　unconsciousness。　Its　artlessness　is　charming。　Thoreau　writes　in　his　〃Summer〃　that　the　country　girls　in　Massachusetts　hear　the　bird　say：　〃Maids；　maids；　maids；　hang　on　your　teakettle；　teakettle…ettle…ettle。〃　The　call…note；　a　metallic　chip；　is　equally　characteristic　of　the　bird's　irrepressible　vivacity。　It　has　still　another　musical　expression；　however；　a　song　more　prolonged　and　varied　than　its　usual　performance；　that　it　seems　to　sing　only　on　the　wing。

Of　course；　the　song　sparrow　must　sometimes　fly　upward；　but　whoever　sees　it　fly　anywhere　but　downward　into　the　thicket　that　it　depends　upon　to　conceal　it　from　too　close　inspection？　By　pumping　its　tail　as　it　flies；　it　seems　to　acquire　more　than　the　ordinary　sparrow's　velocity。

Its　nest；　which　is　likely　to　be　laid　flat　on　the　ground；　except　where　field…mice　are　plentiful　（in　which　case　it　is　elevated　into　the　crotch　of　a　bush）；　is　made　of　grass；　strips　of　bark；　and　leaves；　and　lined　with　finer　grasses　and　hair。　Sometimes　three　broods　may　be　reared　in　a　season；　but　even　the　cares　of　providing　insects　and　seeds　enough　for　so　many　hungry　babies　cannot　altogether　suppress　the　cheerful　singer。　The　eggs　are　grayish　white；　speckled　and　clouded　with　lavender　and　various　shades　of　brown。

In　sparsely　settled　regions　the　song　sparrows　seem　to　show　a　fondness　for　moist　woodland　thickets；　possibly　because　their　tastes　are　insectivorous。　But　it　is　difficult　to　imagine　the　friendly　little　musician　anything　but　a　neighbor。　


SWAMP　SONG　SPARROW　（Melospiza　georgiana）　Finch　family

Called　also：　SWAMP　SPARROW　＇AOU　1998＇；　MARSH　SPARROW；　RED　　　GRASS…BIRD；　SWAMP　FINCH

Length　　5　to　5。8　inches。　A　little　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　　Forehead　black；　crown；　which　in　winter　has　black　stripes；　　　is　always　bright　bay；　line　over　the　eye；　sides　of　the　neck　　　gray。　Back　brown；　striped　with　various　shades。　Wing。　edges　and　　　tail　reddish　brown。　Mottled　gray　underneath　inclining　to　white　　　on　the　chin。　Female　　Without　black　forehead　and　stripes　on　head。　Range　　North　America；　from　Texas　to　Labrador。　Migrations　　April。　October。　A　few　winter　at　the　north。

In　just　such　impenetrable　retreats　as　the　marsh　wrens　choose；　another　wee　brown　bird　may　sometimes　be　seen　springing　up　from　among　the　sedges；　singing　a　few　sweet　notes　as　it　flies　and　floats　above　them；　and　then　suddenly　disappearing　into　the　grassy　tangle。　It　is　too　small；　and　its　breast　is　not　streaked　enough　to　be　a　song　sparrow；　neither　are　their　songs　alike；　it　has　not　the　wren's　peculiarities　of　bill　and　tail；　Its　bright…bay　crown　and　sparrowy　markings　finally　identify　it。　A　suggestion　of　the　bird's　watery　home　shows　itself　in　the　liquid　quality　of　its　simple；　sweet　note；　stronger　and　sweeter　than　the　chippy's；　and　repeated　many　times　almost　like　a　trill　that　seems　to　trickle　from　the　marsh　in　a　little　rivulet　of　song。　The　sweetness　is　apt　to　become　monotonous　to　all　but　the　bird　itself；　that　takes　evident　delight　in　its　performance。　In　the　spring；　when　flocks　of　swamp　sparrows　come　north；　how　they　enliven　the　marshes　and　waste　places。　And　yet　the　song；　simple　as　it　is；　is　evidently　not　uttered　altogether　without　effort；　if　the　tail…spreading　and　teetering　of　the　body　after　the　manner　of　the　ovenbird；　are　any　indications　of　exertion。

Nuttall　says　of　these　birds：　〃They　thread　their　devious　way　with　the　same　alacrity　as　the　rail；　with　whom；　indeed；　they　are　often　associated　in　neighborhood。　In　consequence　of　this　perpetual　brushing　through　sedge　and　bushes；　their　feathers　are　frequently　so　worn　that　their　tails　appear　almost　like　those　of　rats。〃

But　the　swamp　sparrows　frequently　belie　their　name；　and；　especially　in　the　South；　live　in　dry　fields；　worn…out　pasture　lands　with　scrubby；　weedy　patches　in　them。　They　live　upon　seeds　of　grasses　and　berries；　but　Dr。　Abbott　has　detected　th