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Range (Interior of North America) (IV)

Interior of North America; breeds from northern Nebraska, central Iowa, and northern Illinois northward; winters from southern Texas southward; accidental in North Carolina.

Nest, of grasses, lined with hairs, on the ground or in bushes. Eggs, three to five, similar to those of S. socialis. "This pale Sparrow of the plains is very similar in actions to the Chipping Sparrow, but less familiar and confiding in habits" (Goss). BREWER'S SPARROW (562. Spizella breweri), a western species, has been recorded once from Massachusetts. 563. Spizella pusilla (Wils.). FIELD SPARROW. Ad.-Bill reddish brown; top of the head rufous, a gray line over the eye; nape slightly gray; back like the crown, but finely streaked with black and narrowly edged with brownish ashy; rump brownish ashy; middle and greater wing-coverts tipped with white; under parts white, tinged with ochraceous - buff on the breast and sides. Im. - Similar, but the colors duller, the crown edged with grayish and sometimes a faint grayish line through its center. Young in first plumage have the breast streaked with black. L., 5.68; W., 2.50; T., 2.55; B., 36.