Part 49

Range.—Southern California, Texas into Mexico. Breeds like the above quite commonly in southern Texas; eggs a little smaller.

BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER. 753. Polioptila californica. 4½ inches.

Range.—Southern and Lower California, on the Pacific coast.

TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE. 754. Myadestes townsendi. 9 inches.

Range.—From British Columbia to southern California, through the western United States. They nest at high altitudes among the mountain tops, placing their nest upon the ground, among the rocks along the mountain streams. They build a large, loosely constructed nest of roots and twigs, lined with pine needles and moss, in which they lay their four or five white eggs, spotted with shades of brown more about the larger end (.96 × .70).

WILLOW THRUSH. 756a. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola. 7½ inches.

Range.—Western United States from British Columbia to southern California. It breeds and is quite abundant in the foothills and canyons of the mountain ranges. It is a western form of the common eastern “Veery,” and its breeding habits are the same, nesting in an old stump on or near the ground, making the nest of grasses and leaves, usually quite bulky. They lay four unspotted bluish green eggs (.90 × .65). Their song is peculiar and not as attractive as others of the Thrush family.

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH. 757. Hylocichla alicæ. 7½ inches.

Range.—From British Columbia northward, and winters south to Mexico. Their nests are placed on or near the ground in a stump or tussock, usually in very moist places, and are composed largely of leaves and mosses. Their three or four eggs are a bluish green, spotted and blotched with reddish brown (.88 × .64).

RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH. 758. Hylocichla ustulata. 7½ inches.

Range.—From Alaska to Central America, breeding in the northern part, in Oregon and Alaska. Their nests are made and placed usually the same as the above, the eggs being of the same size, but of a lighter color. The Thrushes feed on small insect life and many of the small fruits and berries.

OLIVED-BACKED THRUSH. 758a. Hylocichla u. swainsoni. 7½ inches.

Range.—North America, breeding on the western coast in Alaska, Oregon, California and Colorado. Their nesting habits, eggs and song are the same as the Russet-backed (not illustrated).

ALASKA HERMIT THRUSH. 759. Hylocichla guttata. 6½ inches.

Range.—Alaska to Mexico, breeding in its extreme northern range. These birds are noted for their sweet and musical song, which may be heard from the swamps and thickets in which they make their home. They nest either on or near the ground, building it of shreds of vines, leaves and grasses. Four bluish green eggs, unmarked, are usually laid (.85 × .65).

AUDUBON HERMIT THRUSH. 759a. Hylocichla g. auduboni. 7½ inches.

Range.—Rocky Mountain region, from British Columbia to Arizona. Tail is much lighter than above, and bird larger. Their habits in home life are the same, this bird having the stronger and sweeter voice of the two (not illustrated).

WESTERN ROBIN. 761a. Planesticus migratorius propinquus. 10½ inches.

Range.—West of the Rockies, from British Columbia to Mexico. This is not the familiar bird that is found in the east, but is very secluded, and its song is seldom heard. Nest is made of leaves, grass and twigs, plastered with mud. Four greenish blue eggs (1.15 × .80).

VARIED THRUSH. 763. Ixoreus nævius. 9½ inches.

Range.—Pacific coast, from Alaska to Mexico, breeding in Oregon, Washington and California. They breed quite abundantly in the northern ranges in California and north to Alaska. Their nest is placed in small trees and bushes, usually near the ground, and is made of twigs, weeds and grass, lined with moss. Their eggs, usually four in number, are greenish blue, sharply spotted with few spots of dark brown (1.12 × .80). They have a pleasing song, which is rarely heard in their southern range.

WHEATEAR. 765. Saxicola ænanthe. 6 inches.

Range.—Alaska and accidental in Colorado, breeding in Asia. They nest in crevices of cliffs or in stone walls, building a rude nest of sticks and weeds, lined with hair and feathers. Their four or five eggs are a pale greenish blue (.90 × .60).

WESTERN BLUEBIRD. 767. Sialia mexicana occidentalis. 7 inches.

Range.—British Columbia to Lower California, along the Pacific coast. These familiar birds build in cavities in trees, or in bird houses, and make themselves at home near dwellings, especially if in the vicinity of orchards of any kind. The note of the western bird has the same familiar warble as their eastern relative. They live on small insects and caterpillars, and some of the small berries. Their four eggs are a pale bluish white (.80 × .60).

CHESTNUT-BACKED BLUEBIRD. 767a. Sialia mexicana bairdi. 7 inches.

Range.—Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Texas (not illustrated).

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. 768. Sialia currucoides. 7½ inches.