Part 14

Male, rosy; female, with yellowish.

This species seems to be of a more roving disposition, and even more eccentric than the last. They are not nearly as common and are usually seen in smaller flocks; occasionally one or two individuals of this species will be found with a flock of the American Crossbills, but they usually keep by themselves. While they may be seen in a certain locality one season, they may be absent for several seasons after, for some reason or other. They feed upon the seeds of pine cones, prying the cones open with their peculiar bills.

Notes.—Do not differ appreciably from those of the last.

Nest.—The nesting habits of this species are like those of the last, but the eggs differ in being slightly larger and in having the markings of a more blotchy character (.80 × .55).

Range.—Breeds from the northern parts of the northern tier of states northward. Winters in the northern half of the U. S.

GRAY-CROWNED LEUCOSTICTE 524. Leucosticte tephrocotis. 6½ inches

Female similar to, but duller colored than, the male.

All the members of this genus are western and northern, this one only being found east of the Rockies and then only in winter, when it occasionally is found east of the Mississippi. They wander about in rocky mountainous regions, feeding upon seeds and berries. They are very restless and stop in a place but a short time before flying swiftly away, in a compact flock, to another feeding ground.

Note.—An alarm note of a short, quick whistle.

Nest.—Built on the ground, usually beside a rock or in a crevice; composed of weeds and grass, lined with finer grass. They lay three or four unmarked white eggs in June.

Range.—Western U. S., breeding in the higher mountain ranges; in winter sometimes wandering east to the Mississippi.

REDPOLL 528. Acanthis linaria. 5¼ inches

Male with a rosy breast; female without.

In winter these northern birds may be found in flocks gathering seeds from weeds by the roadside and stone walls. Their actions greatly resemble those of our Goldfinch, but their flight is more rapid.

Song.—Strong, sweet and canary-like.

Nest.—At low elevations in bushes or trees; eggs three to five, pale greenish blue with brown specks.

Range.—Breeds in the extreme north; winters south to northern U. S.

Sub-Species.—528a. Holboell Redpoll (holboelli), slightly larger. 528b. Greater Redpoll (rostrata), larger and darker.

GREENLAND REDPOLL 527. Acanthis hornemannii. 6 inches

A larger and much whiter species found in Greenland and migrating to Labrador in winter. 527b. Hoary Redpoll (exilipes), smaller and darker, but still lighter than the Redpoll; winters south to Massachusetts.

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 529. Astragalinus tristis. 5¼ inches

These beautiful little creatures are often known as Thistle-birds and Wild Canaries, the former name because they are often seen on thistles, from the down of which their nests are largely made, and the latter name because of the sweet canary-like song. Their flight is a peculiar series of undulations accompanied by an intermittent twitter. They are very sociable and breed usually in communities as well as travel in flocks in the winter. Their food is chiefly of seeds and they often come to gardens in fall and winter to partake of sunflower seeds, these flowers often being raised for the sole purpose of furnishing food for the finches in the winter.

Song.—Sweet, prolonged and canary-like; call, a musical “tcheer,” and a twittering in flight.

Nest.—Of thistledown, plant fibres and grasses, in forks of bushes, most often willows or alders near water. Four or five unmarked, pale bluish eggs.

Range.—N. A. east of the Rockies; breeds from Virginia and Missouri north to Labrador; winters in U. S.

WESTERN GOLDFINCH 530. Astragalinus psaltria. 4¼ inches

Cap, wings and tail black; sides of head and back greenish. Female much duller and with no black in the crown. These little Goldfinches are very abundant throughout the West. Their flight is undulatory like that of the preceding, and all their habits are very similar. They spend the winter in bands, roving about the country, feeding on weed seeds; in summer they repair, either in small bands or by single pairs, to the edges of swamps or woodland near water, where they construct their compact homes in the forks of bushes. Their eggs are pale blue like those of the American Goldfinch, but of course are much smaller (.62 × .45). They are laid in May or June, or even earlier in the western portions of their range.

Song.—Sweet and musical, almost like that of the last species.