Our Southern Birds contrasts the Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) with the
English Sparrow (Passer domesticus):
With the exception of the noisy, bullying English Sparrow, all our Sparrows are
innocent, friendly, useful little birds. None are of brilliant plumage, but some are very
pleasing songsters. Of them all none is prettier in ways and coloring than the Field
Sparrow, whose bright pale brown flocks like brushy pastures best, but are common in
fields and gardens in late summer. (54-5)
Miles also lauds the Field Sparrow's usefulness to farmers in its habits of eating insects and weed-producing seed.