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Henslow's Sparrow
Adult--Head dark olive-green; either side of crown black; back warm brown; tail feathers sharply pointed, the middle feathers longest; breast buffy with black streaks; belly white or whitish; yellow at bend of wing and in front of eye. Length--5.00.
This bird might be mistaken for the yellow-winged sparrow; its darker colour, greenish tone on back of head, longer tail, with the outside feathers the shortest, should serve to distinguish it.
Immature birds in first plumage have no spots on the breast. (Chapman.)
Breeding Range--The Eastern States, from Virginia to Massachusetts, "westward to the edge of the plains."
The nest is somewhat roughly built of coarse grass, placed on the ground often in a slight depression, or close against a tussock in the open fields. The eggs, 3 to 5 in number, are white or nearly white, with distinct brown and purplish spots, more numerous at the larger end. Size--.73 x .56.
This shy and unobtrusive sparrow is rather difficult to find, owing to its habit of remaining in the thick grass unless forced to fly. In its short, jerky flight it resembles its near relation, the yellow-winged or grasshopper sparrow. Generally speaking, it prefers the more moist fields to those that are very dry. The nest, as in the case of other birds of similar habits, is well and carefully hidden in the grass. In Illinois, eggs have been found as early as April 20th and as late as August 12th. Mr. Brewster says that this sparrow breeds commonly but very locally in the eastern part of Massachusetts, quite numerously in portions of Worcester County, sparingly and locally in Berkshire County.