. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds. Birds; Birds. 306 USEFUL Tree Sparrow. Winter Chippy. Spizella monticola. Length. —About six inches. Adult. — Crown chestnut; line over eye dull white; line through eye dark (not black) ; back bay, black-streaked; tail dusky, with light edgings; two prominent white wing bars; below, whitish; side of head, throat, and upper breast tinted with ash; breast with a central
. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds. Birds; Birds. 306 USEFUL Tree Sparrow. Winter Chippy. Spizella monticola. Length. —About six inches. Adult. — Crown chestnut; line over eye dull white; line through eye dark (not black) ; back bay, black-streaked; tail dusky, with light edgings; two prominent white wing bars; below, whitish; side of head, throat, and upper breast tinted with ash; breast with a central dusky spot; lower breast and sides tinged with pale brownish. Season. — October to April. The Tree Sparrow is a common winter resident of most parts of the State. The species is almost as regular in ap- pearance as the Junco, but not so plentiful. Though called the Tree Sparrow, it is largely a ground Sparrow while in Massa- chusetts. Wherever it can find a ^* ^ ''^S^ plentiful supply of food and good '*'^^^ shelter it remains throughout the J, - ^H|i^> winter, unless driven south by vHR " ^^^ snows so deep as to cover its food ^k supply. It frequents thickets on Fig. ,about t^c sheltered sidc of MUs, near one-half natural size. swamps, meadows, or wccdy fields. In such fields it often feeds far from bushy cover, but flies quickly to the thicket upon the approach of danger. This species usually goes in flocks, and individuals are not commonly seen alone; although a single bird may some- times be found with a flock of Juncos. It feeds mainly on the ground, and picks up the seeds of weeds as they fall. A snowfall merely brings the birds nearer the tops of the weeds, and so long as there is plenty of seed they are as happy as the Snowbirds. They can climb about among the stronger weed stalks, clinging like a Goldfinch. Often two birds may be seen feeding from a single M'eed, while another hops about on the snow below, gleaning the seeds that T
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