Part 39

WESTERN TREE SPARROW. 559a. Spizella monticola ochracea. 6 inches.

Somewhat resembling the “Chippy Sparrow,” but is larger and has a dark spot on the breast as an identification mark. It breeds in the far north, above the northern borders of the United States, and in winter is common through Oregon, California, into Arizona and Texas.

Nest.—This is usually placed in low trees or bushes or on the ground made of grasses and lined with feathers. They lay three to five greenish white eggs, spotted with different shades of brown (.80 × .55).

WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW. 560a. Spizella passerina arizonæ. 5 inches.

This is one of the most helpful birds to our gardens, living upon insects injurious to vegetation and on the seeds from the garden weeds. They will nest in trees and shrubs, or vines about the house, making a small compact nest, mostly of rootlets and horsehair. They lay from three to five greenish blue eggs, with few spots of brown, mostly about the larger end (.70 × .52).

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. 561. Spizella pallida. 5¼ inches.

These are much like the Chipping Sparrow in every way, with the exception of color, the brown being replaced by the clay-color. Breeds in the Northern United States and into Canada; winters south to Texas and Mexico, rarely in eastern Colorado. Their nest is usually placed on the ground, but may be found in low shrubs in some localities; four eggs are the usual complement, of a light greenish blue, with spots of brown about the larger end (.65 × .50).

BREWER SPARROW. 562. Spizella breweri. 5 inches.

This is very similar to above, but much more streaked with dark above. It is to be found from British Columbia south to Mexico, especially in sections where the sage brush is found, and in southern California near the coast. Its nesting habits are much the same as the above, and the eggs are indistinguishable.

WORTHEN SPARROW. 564. Spizella wortheni. 5 inches.

This is a southern form of the Chipping Sparrow, and is found in New Mexico and Mexico.

BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW. 565. Spizella atrogularis. 5½ inches.

This is easily identified by the black chin, throat and forehead. It is quite common in parts of southern California, and south into Arizona and New Mexico. The habits are similar to those of the Field Sparrow, their eggs differing in being unspotted and are a bluish green (.65 × .50).

WHITE-WINGED JUNCO. 566. Junco aikeni. 6½ inches.

This is slightly larger than the common “Black and White Snowbird” (Hyemalis). It is also a paler bird and the wings are crossed by two white bars. It is found in the central Rocky Mountain regions, where it breeds in the northern part, and winters to eastern Colorado.

SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. 567. Junco hyemalis. 6 inches.

This is common “Black and White Snowbird” of the east, and is the same as above, but darker and does not have any white wing bars. They breed mostly north of the United States, nesting on the ground, often under some boulder, making their nest of roots and grass in which they lay four greenish white eggs, spotted with brown about the larger end (not illustrated).

OREGON JUNCO. 567a. Junco hyemalis oreganus. 6 inches.

There are several of the sub-species of “Hyemalis,” all of which are very much alike in habits; varying in color and location. The Oregon Junco is found from British Columbia to southern California, breeding on the mountains of Oregon and northward. In color, this differs much from the preceding, with more black, and on the back a brownish color. The nesting habits and eggs are very much the same as the preceding.

PINK-SIDED JUNCO. 567g. Junco hyemalis mearnsi. 6 inches.

These breed at high altitudes in the mountains of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, and winter south to Mexico.

THURBER JUNCO. 567c. Junco hyemalis thurberi. 6 inches.

Found most commonly in the Sierra Nevadas from Oregon to southern California. The difference in coloring is shown in the illustrations of this and the two preceding.

GRAY-HEADED JUNCO. 570b. Junco phœonotus caniceps. 6 inches.

The same as the Slate-colored, with the exception of having the back a reddish brown. The nests of all the Juncos are placed on the ground, and the markings of their eggs vary but little.

BAIRD JUNCO. 571. Junco bairdi. 6 inches.

Found in the mountains of southern and Lower California. This is a gray-headed variety with brown on the back and sides.

GUADALUPE JUNCO. 572. Junco insularis. 5½ inches.