He is often called the hair-bird. He is known also
as the social sparrow because he likes best to live near houses, and
seems ready to be friendly with mankind. The tree sparrow, though
larger, closely resembles him, and is often called the winter chip-bird.
The chipping sparrow's eggs are greenish-blue, speckled with dark brown.
They are four in number. The nest is built in a bush or a low tree.
The song sparrow is a very sweet singer. Early in the spring we hear his
song, and he stays late in the autumn. Sometimes he is with us all
winter. His nest is usually on the ground or in some low bush. The eggs
are grayish-white, clouded and spotted with brown and lavender. When the
nest is not disturbed, there are often three broods of little ones
during the summer.
We cannot have too many of these sweet songsters. They make our hearts
glad with their delightful melody, and they help us to keep our gardens
beautiful.
The field sparrow is found in pastures and woodlands. If he is
disturbed, he flies up suddenly from the grass and alights again farther
on. He has a sweet song that ends in a little trill.
While we find our own sparrows lovable we are not so fond of the English
sparrows, which have become more numerous than the native birds.
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