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.