Birds and Nature, Vol. X, No 5, December 1901 — The Chipping Sparrow
[Illustration: CHIPPING SPARROW.
(Spizella socialis.
) About Life-size.
FROM COL.
CHI.
ACAD.
SCIENCES]
THE CHIPPING SPARROW.
(_Spizella socialis.
_) The Chipping Sparrow visits the temperate regions of Eastern North America at that time of the year of which the poet Tennyson has said: “Now fades the last long streak of snow, Now bourgeons every maze of quick About the flowering squares, and thick By ashen rootes the violets blow.
” With the advancing seasons it passes still farther northward, till at last some of these birds have established their homes in Newfoundland and Southern Canada.
They nest and rear their young from the Gulf States to the northern limits of their range.
Mr. Chapman has truthfully said: “The Chippy is among sparrows what the phœbe is among flycatchers—the humblest, most unassuming member of its family.
Both show trustfulness, which, in spite of their unattractive appearance and far from pleasing voices, win our affection.
” Few of our feathered friends are more confiding or will show more confidence in us, especially when by quiet, kindly acts we attract them to our doorsteps.
They love the habitations of man and will select the vines and bushes of the door-yard in which to build their homes.
The name Social Sparrow is fully as appropriate as Chipping Sparrow.
The latter name is derived from their song, which is best described as a “monotonous chippy-chippy-chippy-chippy,” ending at times in a quiet trill.
Their happy dispositions and busy lives are inspiring.
“Bid the little homely sparrows, Chirping in the cold and rain, Their impatient, sweet complaining, Sing out from their hearts again;
Bid them set themselves to mating, Cooing love in softest words, Crowd their nests, all cold and empty, Full of little callow birds.
” The song of the Chippy lasts about four seconds and is repeated at frequent intervals throughout the day.
They “frequently repeat their trills in the darkness of night when restless or disturbed.
” Mr. Silloway has estimated that “if their total practice through the day amounts to five hours, it is probable that they utter more than two thousand songs in a day, and perhaps even more; a wonderful record for these little musicians.
” The ground, the fence, the porch or a shrub serve alike as a rostrum from which, with uplifted heads, to utter their trills.
Were it not for the English sparrow the yards of our country residences would be alive with these companionable birds.
They not only enjoy the society of man, but also the presence of their own kind.
The male is very attentive and will share food that he has obtained with his mate, for whom he shows the greatest fondness.
In fact, the love for each other exhibited by a pair of these sparrows is remarkable.
Then, too, their attachment for the home bush, in which they have passed a happy season, is frequently shown by their returning to the same bush or one near by, not only the next season, but probably for several.
The delicate little home of the Chippy is sometimes a neatly and closely woven fabrication of the hairs of horses and cows.
Because of this habit of using hair in its nest the Chippy is frequently called the Hairbird.
More often, however, the hair is used in the lining, which is protected by an outer wall made of grasses, fine roots and twigs.
The nest is seldom placed less than five feet from the ground.
In this home, with its feltlike lining, are laid the four or five bluish green eggs, the larger ends of which are speckled with brown or black.
The Chippy is not contented with a single family and usually raises two in a season.
The patient devotion of the parent birds to their young is very interesting.
They teach the little birds to gather their own food and carefully guard them till they have gained sufficient strength and confidence to care for themselves.
Even then parents and offspring remain near each other, lovingly feeding in the same pasture, till the cold autumn drives them to their summer home in the Southern States and Mexico.
