If not the best musical performer that visits us from the South, there is none that meets a heartier welcome in New England than the Song Sparrow. While winter yet lingers, and seems loth to depart, and while yet our fields are mottled with patches of snow, and spots of bare earth, and Boreas, with his surly blast, still sweeps over our land, perched on an isolated shrub, or on the still almost snow-covered fence, the Song Sparrow pours forth his pleasing and welcome notes, which proclaims that the reign of stern winter is about over, and that genial spring is about to return to gladden the earth. It is the first songster in the spring, and its notes are pleasing to the ear; and it is the earliest, and by far the sweetest songster of all our Sparrows.

Food

It thrives well in a cage, fed on hemp and Canary seed, and soon becomes very tame.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

It is very difficult to distinguish the male from the female of this bird. The male is rather brighter in color.

Location

Found throughout the United States. Winters in the Southern States.