As indicated by their name _socialis_, Chipping Sparrows are sociable
birds not only with others of the bird tribe, but with man. In all
localities that are not overrun with English Sparrows, you will find
these confiding birds nesting in trees and shrubs in the yard and in
vines from porches, while in orchards, nearly every tree has its tenant.
They are smaller birds than the last (5.5 in. long) and have the brown
crown bordered by blackish and a black line through the eye. Their
nests, which may be found at any height from the ground and in any kind
of a tree or shrub, are made of fine grass and weed stems, lined with
hair; their three to five eggs are a handsome greenish blue, sparingly
specked chiefly about the large end with blackish brown and purplish.
Size .70 x .52.

560a. WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW. _Spizella passerina arizonae._

Range.--Western North America, chiefly west of the Rockies, from Mexico
to Alaska; winters in Mexico.

This variety is much duller colored than the last and has but little
brown on the back; its nesting habits are the same and the eggs do not
appear to differ in any respect from those of the eastern bird.

561. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. _Spizella pallida._

Range.--Interior of United States and Canada, from the Mississippi
Valley to the Rockies, breeding from Iowa and Colorado northward;
winters in Mexico.

These birds can best be described as like the Chipping Sparrow with the
brown largely replaced with blackish. They breed quite abundantly in
Manitoba and Minnesota, placing their nests on or near the ground, and
making them of fine grasses. The eggs cannot be distinguished with
certainty from those of the preceding but average a trifle smaller. Size
.65 x .50. Data.--Barnsley, Manitoba, May 24, 1900. Nest of grass stalks
lined with fine grass, one foot above ground in tuft of grass.

562. BREWER'S SPARROW. _Spizella breweri._

Range.--Western United States from Mexico to British Columbia rarely and
chiefly between the Rockies and the Sierras; most abundant in New Mexico
and Arizona.

This bird is similar to the last but is paler and more finely streaked.
Their nesting habits are like those of pallida and the eggs are
indistinguishable.

[Illustration 348: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: 559a--560a.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: 561--562--564.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

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[Illustration 349: CHIPPING SPAR