White-throated Sparrows

These sparrows invade every Spring, every Fall. 
I love their whistle.

Their song set to words by humans

Translates to this:
Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.              

New Englanders pronounce it “Peabuddy”
and sing it thus:
                    Sam                                  
            Old           Peabuddy Peabuddy Peabuddy.  

This song sounds every Fall
and again in Spring
as sparrows search under bushes for their food. 

You often hear them scratching before they’re seen. 

Right now, they’re heading south for winter,
fleeing ice and snow.

How they know I’m unable to say,
but it’s long been known:

the three-tone “Peabody song”
is their transit song
starting up upon arrival and until they’re gone.