Chapter 24

A favorite and one of the most abundant in all sections of the east. They are sweet and persistent songsters and frequent side hills, pastures, roadsides, gardens and dooryards if English Sparrows be not present. They nest indifferently upon the ground or in bushes, generally artfully concealing the nest by drooping leaves; it is made of grass and weed stems, lined with fine grass or, occasionally, horse hair. As is usual in the case of birds that abound about habitations they frequently choose odd nesting sites. They lay two and sometimes three sets of eggs a season, from May to August, the eggs being three to five in number and white or greenish white, marked, spotted, blotched or splashed in endless variety of pattern and intensity, with many shades of brown; some eggs are very heavily blotched so as to wholly obscure the ground color while others are specked very sparingly. They measure .80 × .60 with great variations.

581a. DESERT SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia fallax_.

Range.--Desert regions of southern Nevada, Arizona and southeastern California. The eggs of this very pale form are the same as those of the last.

581b. MOUNTAIN SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia montana_.

Range.--Rockies and the Great Basin from Oregon and Montana southward.

This variety is paler than the Song Sparrow but darker than _fallax_. Eggs the same.

581c. HEERMAN'S SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia heermanni_.

Range.--California, west of the Sierra Nevadas.

Similar to _melodia_ but with less brown and the markings blacker and more distinct. The nesting habits are the same and the eggs similar to large dark specimens of the eastern Song Sparrow. Size .85 × .62.

581d. SAMUELS SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia samuelis_.

Range.--Coast regions of California, chiefly in the marshes.

Similar to the last but smaller. They nest on the ground in marsh grass, usually in sandy districts along the shore. The eggs average smaller than those of _melodia_. Size .78 × .58.

581e. RUSTY SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia morphna_.

Range.--Pacific coast of Oregon and British Columbia.

A dark species with the upper parts dark reddish brown and heavily streaked with the same below. The nesting habits and eggs are like those of _melodia_.

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581f. SOOTY SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia rufina._

Range.--Pacific coast from British Columbia to Alaska.

A darker bird, both above and below, even than the last. Eggs like the last but averaging a trifle larger. Size .82 × .62.

581g. BROWN'S SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia rivularis._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

A light colored form like the Desert Song Sparrow; said to build in cat tails above water as well as on the ground; eggs not different from others of the genus.

581h. SANTA BARBARA SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia graminea._

Range.--Breeds on Santa Barbara Islands; winters on adjacent coast of California.

A variety of the same size but paler than _samuelis_. Nesting or eggs not peculiar.

581i. SAN CLEMENTE SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia clementæ._

Range.--San Clemente and Santa Rosa Island of the Santa Barbara group.

Slightly larger than the last; habits and eggs the same.

581j. DAKOTA SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia juddi._

Range.--North Dakota, breeding in the Turtle Mountains.

Practically indistinguishable from the common Song Sparrow; the eggs will not differ.

581k. MERRILL'S SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia merrilli._

Range.--Northwestern United States; eastern Oregon and Washington to Idaho.

Very similar to, but lighter than the Rusty Song Sparrow.

581l. ALAMEDA SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia pusillula_.

Range.--Salt marshes of San Francisco Bay, California.

Similar to, but still smaller than Samuel Song Sparrow. Eggs will not differ.

581m. SAN DIEGO SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia cooperi._

Range.--Southern coast of California; north to Monterey Bay.

Similar to, but smaller and lighter than _heermanni_.

581n. YAKUTAT SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia caurina._

Range.--Coast of Alaska from Cross Sound to Prince Williams Sound.

Similar to the Sooty Song Sparrow but larger and grayer. Eggs probably average larger.

581o. KENAI SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza Melodia kenaiensis._

Range.--Kenai Peninsula on the coasts.

Like the last but still larger; length about 7 inches.

581q. BISCHOFF'S SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia insignis._

Range.--Kadiak Island, Alaska.

Similar to and nearly as large as the next species, but browner.

581r. ALEUTIAN SONG SPARROW. _Melospiza melodia sanaka._

Range.--Found on nearly all the islands of the Aleutian group, excluding Kadiak.

This is the largest of the Song Sparrows being nearly 8 inches in length; it is similar in appearance to the Sooty Song Sparrow but grayer. It nests either on the ground or at low elevations in bushes, the nest usually being concealed in a tuft of grass or often placed under rocks or, sometimes, driftwood along the shores. The nests are made of grasses and weed stems, and the eggs are similar to those of the Song Sparrow but much larger and more elongate. Size .90 × .65.

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583. LINCOLN'S SPARROW. _Melospiza lincolni lincolni._

Range.--North America, breeding from northern United States north to the Arctic regions; most abundant in the interior and the west; rare in New England.

This bird is shy and retiring and skulks off through the underbrush of thickets and swamps that it frequents upon the approach of anyone; consequently it is often little known in localities where it is quite abundant. They nest on the ground like Song Sparrows, and rarely in bushes. Their eggs are very similar to those of the Song Sparrow, three or four in number, greenish white in color, heavily spotted and blotched with chestnut and gray. Size .80 × .58.

583a. FORBUSH'S SPARROW. _Melospiza lincolni striata._

Range.--Pacific coast of Oregon and British Columbia.

Similar to the preceding but darker and browner. Eggs probably like those of the last.

584. SWAMP SPARROW. _Melospiza georgiana._

Range.--North America, east of the Plains, breeding from middle United States north to Labrador and Hudson Bay.

This common and dark colored Sparrow frequents swampy places where it breeds; owing to its sly habits it is not commonly seen during the breeding season. Its nests are made of grasses and located on the ground usually in places where the walking is extremely treacherous. The eggs are similar to those of the Song Sparrow but are generally darker and more clouded and average smaller. Size .75 × .55.

585. FOX SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca iliaca._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding from southern Canada northward, and northwest to Alaska; winters in southern United States.

This large handsome species, with its mottled grayish and reddish brown plumage and bright rufous tail, is very common in eastern United States during migrations, being found in open woods and hedges in company with Juncos and White-throated Sparrows, with which species their song vies in sweetness. They nest usually on the ground, but sometimes in low bushes; the nests are made of grasses and are concealed beneath the overhanging branches of bushes or evergreens. The three or four eggs are greenish-white, spotted and blotched with brown. Size .94 × .68.

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585a. SHUMAGIN FOX SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca unalaschensis._

Range.--Shumagin Islands and the Alaska coast to Cook Inlet.

Similar to the last but paler, being one of the several recent unsatisfactory subdivisions of this genus. The nesting habits and eggs of all the varieties are like those of the common eastern form.

585b. THICK-BILLED SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca megarhyncha._

Range.--Mountains of eastern California and western Nevada; locally confined.

Entire upper parts and breast spots gray; wings and tail brown. It nests in the heaviest underbrush of the mountain sides, building on or close to the ground.

585c. SLATE-COLORED SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca schistacea._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region, breeding from Colorado to British Columbia.

This variety which is similar to, but smaller than the last, nests in thickets along the mountain streams. The eggs are like those of iliaca, but average smaller.

585d. STEPHEN'S SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca stephensi._

Range.--Breeds in the San Bernadino and San Jacinto Mts. in southern California.

Like the Thick-billed Sparrow, but bill still larger and bird slightly so.

585e. SOOTY FOX SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca fuliginosa._

Range.--Coast of Washington and British Columbia; south to California in winter.

585f. KADIAK FOX SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca insularis._

Range.--Breeding on Kadiak Island; winters south to California.

Like the last but browner above and below.

585g. TOWNSEND'S FOX SPARROW. _Passerella iliaca townsendi._

Range.--Southern coast of Alaska; winters south to California. Like the last but more rufous above.

Upperparts and tail uniform brownish umber, below heavily spotted.

586. TEXAS SPARROW. _Arremonops rufivirgatus._

Range.--Eastern Mexico and southern Texas.

This odd species has a brownish crown, olive greenish upperparts, wings and tail, and grayish white underparts. They are common resident birds along the Lower Rio Grande, being found in tangled thickets, where they nest at low elevations, making their quite bulky nests of coarse weeds and grass and sometimes twigs, lined with finer grass and hair; they are often partially domed with an entrance on the side. Their eggs are plain white, without markings; often several broods are raised in a season and eggs may be found from May until August.

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587. TOWHEE. _Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding from the Gulf to Manitoba.

The well known Towhee, Ground Robin or Chewink is a bird commonly met with in eastern United States; it frequents thickets, swamps and open woods where they nest generally upon the ground and sometimes in bushes near the ground. The nests are well made of grasses, lined with fine grasses and rootlets, and the eggs, which are laid in May or June, are pinkish white, generally finely sprinkled but sometimes with bold markings of light reddish brown, with great variations. Size .90 × .70.

Towhees are noisy birds and at frequent intervals, while they are scratching among the leaves for their food they will stop and utter their familiar "tow-hee" or "che-wink" and then again will mount to the summit of a tree or bush and sing their sweet refrain for a long time.

587a. WHITE-EYED TOWHEE. _Pipilo erythrophthalmus alleni._

Range.--Florida and the Atlantic coast to South Carolina.

This variety is like the preceding except that the eyes are white instead of red. There is no difference between their nesting habits and eggs, except that they much more frequently, and in some localities, almost always, nest in trees.

588. ARCTIC TOWHEE. _Pipilo maculatus arcticus._

Range.--Great Plains, breeding from northern United States to the Saskatchewan.

This species is similar to the eastern Towhee but has the scapulars and coverts tipped with white. They nest abundantly in suitable localities in Montana and North Dakota and more commonly north of our borders. Like the eastern Towhee, they nest on the ground under the protection of overhanging bushes, the nests being made of strips of bark and grasses and lined with fine rootlets. Their three or four eggs, which are laid during May, June or July, are pinkish white, profusely speckled with reddish brown; very similar to those of the eastern Towhee. Size .92 × .70.

588a. SPURRED TOWHEE. _Pipilo maculatus montanus._

Range.--Breeds from Mexico to British Columbia, west of the Rockies.

Similar to the last but with less white on the back. The nesting habits and eggs are like those of the Towhee, but in some localities the nests are most often found in bushes above the ground.

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588b. OREGON TOWHEE. _Pipilo maculatus oregonus._

Range.--Pacific coast from California to British Columbia; winters to Mexico. Similar to the last but with still fewer white markings on the back and the chestnut flanks brighter. The nesting habits and eggs of this variety differ in no essential particular from those of the preceding Towhees.

588c. SAN CLEMENTE TOWHEE. _Pipilo maculatus clementæ._

Range.--San Clemente Is. and other of the Santa Barbara group.

Black of male said to be duller. Probably no difference between the eggs and others.

588d. SAN DIEGO TOWHEE. _Pipilo maculatus megalonyx._

Range.--Coast of southern California and Lower California. Said to be darker than _megalonyx._

588e. LARGE-BILLED TOWHEE. _Pipilo maculatus magnirostris._

Range.--Southern Lower California. Similar to _arcticus_; bill said to be larger.

589. GUADALUPE TOWHEE. _Pipilo consobrinus._

Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.

Similar to _oregonus_ but smaller and with a relatively shorter tail. The nesting habits and eggs of this species will not likely be found to differ essentially from those of others of the genus.

591. CANON TOWHEE. _Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus._

Range.--Mexico and north to Arizona and New Mexico and casually farther to Colorado.

A common species in the valleys and on the side hills, nesting in bushes near the ground, and sometimes on the ground; the nests are made of grasses, weeds and twigs lined with rootlets, and the three or four eggs are greenish blue sparingly spotted or scrawled with blackish brown, the markings being similar to those on many Red-winged Blackbirds' eggs. Size 1.00 × .70.

591a. SAN LUCAS TOWHEE. _Pipilo fuscus albigula._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

This variety is like the last but is usually paler below. It is abundant in the region about the cape where they nest in thickets, either in the bushes or on the ground. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the Canon Towhee.

591b. CALIFORNIA TOWHEE. _Pipilo crissalis crissalis._

Range.--Pacific coast of California.

This variety is similar to the Canon Towhee but is browner, both above and below. They are one of the most common of California birds, frequenting scrubby thickets, both on mountain sides and in valleys and canons, from which their harsh scolding voice always greets intruders. They place their nests in bushes at low elevations from the ground and sometimes on the ground;

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they are made of twigs, strips of bark, weeds and coarse grasses, lined with fine rootlets. Their three or four eggs are laid in April or May; they are light bluish green marked like the others with purplish or brownish black. Size .95 × .72.

591.1a. ANTHONY'S TOWHEE. _Pipilo crissalis senicula._

Range.--Southern California and south through Lower California.

A very similar bird to the last but sightly smaller and lighter below. The habits and nesting habits of these birds are in every way identical with those of the California Towhee and the eggs cannot be distinguished from those of that variety. They are fully as abundant in the southern parts of California as the others are in the northern.

592. ABERT'S TOWHEE. _Pipilo aberti._

Range.--Arizona and New Mexico north to Colorado and Nevada and east to southeastern California.

This bird is wholly brownish gray both above and below shading into reddish brown on the under tail coverts; the face is black. They are abundant in the valleys of Arizona and New Mexico, but unlike the preceding species, they are generally wild and shy. They nest in chaparral thickets along streams, the nests being constructed similarly to those of the California Towhee, and the eggs are not easily distinguishable from those of that species, but they are usually more sparsely specked and the markings more distinct. Size 1.00 × .75.

592.1. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE. _Oreospiza chlorura._

Range.--Western United States, chiefly west of the Rockies from Montana and Washington south to Mexico; wintering in southwestern United States.

This handsome and entirely different plumaged species from any of the preceding would, from appearance, be better placed in the group with the White-throated Sparrow than its present position. It has a reddish brown crown, the remainder of the upper parts, wings and tail being greenish yellow; the throat is white, bordered abruptly with gray on the breast and sides of head. These birds place their nests on the ground. The nests are built similarly to those of the eastern Towhee, and the eggs, too, are similar, being whitish, finely dotted and specked with reddish brown, the markings being most numerous around the larger end. Size .85 × .65.

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593. CARDINAL. _Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis._

Range.--Eastern United States, north to New York and Illinois, west to the Plains and Texas. Resident in most of its range.

These beautiful fiery red and crested songsters are one of the most attractive of our birds, and in their range, nest about habitations as freely as among the thickets and scrubby brush of wood or hillside. Their nests are rarely placed higher than ten feet from the ground in bushes, branches, vines, brush piles or trees; they are loosely made of twigs, coarse grasses and weeds, shreds of bark, leaves, etc., and lined with fine grass or hair. They frequently lay two or three sets of eggs a season, the first being completed usually early in May; three or four, and sometimes five, white or pale bluish white eggs are laid; they are very varied in markings but usually profusely spotted, more heavily at the large end, with reddish brown and lavender. Size 1.00 × .70.

593a. ARIZONA CARDINAL. _Cardinalis cardinalis superbus._

Range.--Northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona.

A larger and more rosy form of the Cardinal. Its eggs cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern Redbird.

593b. SAN LUCAS CARDINAL. _Cardinalis cardinalis igneus._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

Like the last but smaller and with less black on the forehead; eggs the same.

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593c. GRAY-TAILED CARDINAL. _Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudus._

Range.--Northeastern Mexico and southern Texas.

The male of this species is like the eastern Cardinal but the female is said to be grayer. The nesting habits are the same and the eggs identical with those of the latter.

593d. FLORIDA CARDINAL. _Cardinalis cardinalis floridanus._

Range.--Southern Florida.

Supposed to be a deeper and richer shade of red. Eggs like those of cardinalis.

594. ARIZONA PYRRHULOXIA. _Pyrrhuloxia sinuata sinuata._

Range.--Northwestern Mexico and the southern border of New Mexico, Arizona and western Texas.

This species is of similar form and crested like a Cardinal, but the bill is very short and hooked like that of a Parrot; the plumage is grayish, with wings and tail dull reddish; face and throat, and middle of belly rosy red. Their habits are the same as those of the Cardinal, but their nests are said to be slighter; they are placed in similar locations to those of the latter, the two species often nesting together in the same thicket. Their eggs are like those of the Cardinal but average smaller, although the ranges overlap so that the eggs cannot be distinguished. Size .90 x .70. Data.--San Antonio, Texas, May 16, 1889. Nest of fine grasses, lined with rootlets; 4 feet from ground in a mesquite tree.

594a. TEXAS PYRRHULOXIA. _Pyrrhuloxia sinuata texana._

Range.--Northeastern Mexico and southern Texas.

Said to be grayer and the bill to average larger than that of the last. There are no differences in the nesting habits or eggs between the two varieties.

594b. SAN LUCAS PYRRHULOXIA. _Pyrrhuloxia sinuata peninsulæ._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

Smaller than the Arizona Cardinal but with a larger bill. The eggs are like those of the others but may average a trifle smaller.

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595. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. _Zamelodia ludoviciana._

Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding from the Middle States and Ohio north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

This beautiful black and white bird with rosy red breast and under wing coverts, is one of the most pleasing of our songsters. They nest either in bushes or trees, generally between six and twenty feet from the ground and usually in thick clumps of trees or scrubby apple trees. The three or four eggs, which are laid in June, are greenish blue, spotted, most heavily about the larger end, with reddish brown. Size 1.00 × .75. Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 5, 1899. Nest of twigs and rootlets in small apple tree in woods; nest very frail, eggs showing through the bottom.

596. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. _Zamelodia melanocephala._

Range.--United States, west of the Plains, breeding from Mexico north to British Columbia; winters south of the United States.

This species is of the size of the last (8 inches long), and is a bright cinnamon brown color with black head, and black and white wings and tail. The habits of this bird are the same as those of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and its song is very similar but more lengthy. Their nests, like those of the last, are very flimsy structures placed in bushes or trees, usually below twenty feet from the ground; they are open frameworks of twigs, rootlets and weed stalks, through which the eggs can be plainly seen. The eggs are similar to those of the preceding but are usually of a paler color, the markings, therefore showing with greater distinctness. Size 1.00 × .70.

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597. BLUE GROSBEAK. _Guiraca cærulea._

Range.--Southeastern United States, breeding from the Gulf north to Pennsylvania and Illinois, and casually to New England.

Smaller than the last two species and deep blue, with wings and tail blackish, and the lesser coverts and tips of greater, chestnut. It is a fairly common species in the southerly parts of its range, nesting most frequently in low bushes or vines in thickets; the nest is made of rootlets, weed stalks and grasses and sometimes leaves. The three or four eggs are bluish white, unmarked. Size .85 × .65. Data.--Chatham Co., Ga., June 10, 1898. 3 eggs. Nest of roots, leaves and snake skin, lined with fine rootlets, 3 feet from the ground in a small oak bush.

597a. WESTERN BLUE GROSBEAK. _Guiraca cærulea lazula._

Range.--Western United States north to Kansas, Colorado and northern California.

Slightly larger than the last and lighter blue; nests the same and egg not distinctive.

598. INDIGO BUNTING. _Passerina cyanea._

Range.--United States, east of the Plains, breeding north to Manitoba and Nova Scotia; winters south of the United States.