Part 38

ALASKAN LONGSPUR. 536a. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis. 6½ inches.

Their breeding grounds are in the northern part of Alaska in summer, and in winter coming as far south as Oregon and Colorado, when they may be frequently found in with flocks of Snow Buntings, and, like the Snowflakes, they breed on the ground in a depression in the moss or under some boulder, making their nest of grass and lining it with feathers. Their four to six eggs are grayish, nearly covered with spots and blotches of shades of dark brown (.80 × .60).

WESTERN VESPER SPARROW. 540a. Poœcetes gramineus confinis. 6 inches.

The chestnut shoulders and outer white tail-feather will distinguish this from any others of the sparrows, and the sides are more of a gray color than the eastern variety. Its habit of singing later in the evening gave it the name of “Vesper.” Found on the Pacific coast, from British Columbia to Mexico. Nest is made of grass, placed in a depression on the ground. Four dull white eggs, blotched with brown (.80 × .60).

WESTERN SAVANNAH SPARROW. 542b. Passerculus s. alaudinus. 5½ inches.

This is a slightly paler form of the preceding, and is very common in the fields and meadows, from northern Alaska to Mexico. They are birds but very little seen, keeping in the grass the greater part of the time. Their nests are hollows in the ground lined with fine grass and concealed by tufts of grass. They usually deposit four eggs, grayish white, blotched heavily with brown (.75 × .55).

BRYANT SPARROW. 542c. Passerculus s. bryanti. 5½ inches.

Found on the salt marshes of California to Lower California. It is a darker and brighter bird than the preceding (not illustrated).

BELDING SPARROW. 543. Passerculus beldingi. 5½ inches.

Found on the marshes of southern and Lower California. Is darker and more streaked below. Nesting habits the same; eggs darker.

LARGE-BILLED SPARROW. 544. Passerculus rostratus. 5½ inches.

The large and stouter bill, paler, and more of a grayish brown color, will distinguish this from any of the preceding. They are fairly common in the salt marshes of southern and Lower California. Their nesting habits and eggs are practically the same as those mentioned previously.

SAN BENITO SPARROW. 544c. Passerculus r. sanctorum. 5½ inches.

Breeds on San Benito Islands, winters in southern Lower California. Nesting habits are identical (not illustrated).

BAIRD SPARROW. 545. Ammodramus bairdi. 5¼ inches.

These sparrows breed abundantly in parts of the Dakotas on the plains, and winter in eastern Colorado, through Arizona to New Mexico. The tail-feathers of this species are much more pointed than on any of the preceding.

Nest.—This is placed on the ground in clumps of grass, and is made of fine dried grass. Usually four eggs are laid of a dull white, blotched and spotted with shades of brown and lilac (.80 × .60).

WESTERN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. 546a. Ammodramus s. bimaculatus. 5 inches.

These birds are common in dry fields and pastures, where their faint lisping song is heard throughout the day. Nest is usually a deep structure in a hollow in some dry field, and usually placed near some rock or suitable place where they can watch the locality for danger. Four eggs are laid; white, finely dotted with chestnut (.72 × .55).

LECONTE SPARROW. 548. Passerherbulus lecontei. 5 inches.

More slender in form than the preceding; breeding above the line and winters through eastern Colorado to southern Texas. Nesting habits and eggs similar to above (not illustrated).

WESTERN LARK SPARROW. 552a. Chondestes grammacus strigatus. 6½ inches.

One of the most common, as well as the most handsome of the sparrow family on the western coast; with its bright chestnut on the sides of the head, and black and white on the crown. They nest in low bushes, or on the ground in a clump of grass; four eggs are laid; white with dark brown markings, mostly about the larger end (.80 × .60).

GAMBEL SPARROW. 554a. Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelt. 6½ inches.

This bird, a favorite with the people of the northwest, has been rightly called the “Northern Nightingale.” Their sweet song may be heard all during the day about dwellings or remote from them, or even in the night they have a habit of awakening and giving out the same sweet notes. In habits they much resemble the above, feeding upon the ground among the dead leaves in search of seed and insect food.

Nest.—This is placed on the ground in a clump of grass, and is made of fine grasses; four to six eggs of a pale greenish blue color, spotted and splashed with shades of brown (.90 × .65).

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. 557. Zonotrichia coronata. 7 inches.

The crown of white in the above is replaced with a golden color. These are common birds about the cities of California during the winter months. Habits the same as above, and also their eggs.