Sparrows, I have just found out, are sometimes given over to quarreling. Yesterday and today, I have not put crumbs on the sill as the window was frozen tight, but there were a few rain-soaked pieces that had frozen there. I have been watching them for the last ten-minutes. The frost is melted off just enough so I can see them, while they act the same time fail to notice me. At first there were only three. The one in the middle wasn’t very greedy and quarrelsome, and was continually pecking at his companions. One was very meek and took everything without giving back while the other, however, stood up for himself. But there was plenty for all three and no necessity for quarreling.
Charles Burchfield, January 10, 1911