field sparrow

American  

noun

1. a common North American finch, Spizella pusilla, found in brushy pasturelands.

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Etymology

Origin of field sparrow

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Example Sentences

I’ve gone whole winters without seeing a field sparrow in the New Orleans vicinity.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2012

In the song sparrow, field sparrow, chipping sparrow, and the fox sparrow the male and female are very nearly alike in color.

From The Meaning of Evolution by Schmucker, Samuel Christian

Then, as it grew dark, it grew silent,—except for the hylas,—till suddenly a field sparrow gave out his sweet strain once.

From Birds in the Bush by Torrey, Bradford

Have you heard the song of the field sparrow?

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John

He varies his tune freely, but always within a pretty narrow compass; as is true, also, of the field sparrow, with whom, as I soon came to feel, he has not a little in common.

From A Florida Sketch-Book by Torrey, Bradford