finches

Sparrow \Spar"row\, n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG.
   sparo, G. sperling, Icel. sp["o]rr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw.
   sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or
   flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See {Spurn}, and cf.
   {Spavin}.]
   1. (Zool.) One of many species of small singing birds of the
      family {Fringilligae}, having conical bills, and feeding
      chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also {finches},
      and {buntings}. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of
      Europe ({Passer domesticus}) is noted for its familiarity,
      its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its
      fecundity. See {House sparrow}, under {House}.
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   Note: The following American species are well known; the
         {chipping sparrow}, or {chippy}, the {sage sparrow},
         the {savanna sparrow}, the {song sparrow}, the {tree
         sparrow}, and the {white-throated sparrow} (see
         {Peabody bird}). See these terms under {Sage},
         {Savanna}, etc.
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   2. (Zool.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat
      resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the
      European hedge sparrow. See under {Hedge}.
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            He that doth the ravens feed,
            Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
            Be comfort to my age!                 --Shak.
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   {Field sparrow}, {Fox sparrow}, etc. See under {Field},
      {Fox}, etc.

   {Sparrow bill}, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a
      sparable.

   {Sparrow hawk}. (Zool.)
      (a) A small European hawk ({Accipiter nisus}) or any of
          the allied species.
      (b) A small American falcon ({Falco sparverius}).
      (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk ({Accipiter
          torquatus}).

   Note: The name is applied to other small hawks, as the
         European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk.

   {Sparrow owl} (Zool.), a small owl ({Glaucidium passerinum})
      found both in the Old World and the New. The name is also
      applied to other species of small owls.

   {Sparrow spear} (Zool.), the female of the reed bunting.
      [Prov. Eng.]
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Finch \Finch\ (f[i^]nch), n.; pl. {Finches} (f[i^]nch"[e^]z).
   [AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho, G. fink; cf. W. pinc
   a finch; also E. spink.] (Zool.)
   A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to
   the family {Fringillid[ae]}.
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   Note: The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch,
         goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
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   {Bramble finch}. See {Brambling}.

   {Canary finch}, the canary bird.

   {Copper finch}. See {Chaffinch}.

   {Diamond finch}. See under {Diamond}.

   {Finch falcon} (Zool.), one of several very small East Indian
      falcons of the genus {Hierax}.

   {To pull a finch}, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting
      person. [Obs.] "Privily a finch eke could he pull."
      --Chaucer.
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