Chapter VI: Part 6

Range.--Breeds from Central America north, in mountains of western United States, to British Columbia; east to Colorado; winters south of United States; more common in Pacific coast states.

=423. Chimney Swift= (_ChA|tura pelagica_). L. 5.4; W. 4.9. Tail with protruding spines. _Ads._ Above sooty, rump and underparts paler; throat whitish. _Notes._ A rolling twitter.

Range.--Eastern North America, west to the Plains; breeds from Florida to Labrador and Manitoba; winters south of United States, to Central America.

=424. Vaux Swift= (_ChA|tura vauxii_). L. 4.5; W. 4.4. _Ads._ Similar to No. 423, but smaller and somewhat browner. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 423, but are less frequently uttered. (Bendire.)

Range.--Western United States; breeds on Pacific coast, locally, north to British Columbia; east casually to Montana and Arizona; winters south of United States to Central America.

=425. White-throated Swift= (_AA"ronautes melanoleucus_). L. 6.5. Tail forked, without spines. _Ads._ Above sooty brownish black; breast, middle of belly and flank patches white. _Notes._ A sharp, metallic twitter.

Range.--Western United States; east to western Nebraska and Black Hills; breeds in Rocky Mountains north to Montana; on Pacific coast north to Lat. 38A deg.; winters south of United States to Central America.

Hummingbirds

=426. Rivoli Hummingbird= (_Eugenes fulgens_). L. 5.1. A small white spot behind eye. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown purple, throat bright green, back bronzy green; tail somewhat more bronzy. _Ad._ [Female]. Above bronzy green, all but central tail-feathers with blackish ends and narrow grayish tips; below grayish, all but throat feathers _green centrally_. _Yng._ [Male]. Throat with more or less green, belly and above more bronzy than in [Female].

Range.--Nicaragua, north in mountains to mountains of southeastern Arizona, and southwest New Mexico; winters south of United States.

=429. Black-chinned Hummingbird= (_Trochilus alexandri_). L. 3.5; W. 1.7. _Ad._ [Male]. Chin and upper throat black, lower throat amethyst; tail forked, feathers pointed. _Ad._ [Female]. Throat grayish white; _chin buffy_; tail feathers more rounded, three outer ones tipped with white. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar [Female], but throat with dusky spots.

Range.--Western United States; breeds from San Antonio, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California north to Montana and British Columbia; rare on Pacific coast north of southern California; winters south of United States.

=430. Costa Hummingbird= (_Calypte costA|_). L. 3.1. No rusty in plumage. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown, throat and lengthened neck-feathers amethyst, back dull green. _Ad._ [Female]. Below grayish white; above grayish green; outer tail-feathers _gray_ at base, then black and at tip white. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to [Female], but throat usually with some amethyst spots; tip of outer tail-feather grayish.

Range.--Northwestern Mexico; breeds north throughout Lower California, to southern California, northern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and southwestern New Mexico; winters from Mexican border southward.

=437. Lucifer Hummingbird= (_Calothorax lucifer_). L. 3.6; B. .8. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat purplish pink, feathers at its side much lengthened; tail feathers very narrow, the outer ones less than .05 in. wide on end half. _Ad._ [Female]. Below nearly uniform _rusty buff_, above bronzy green; tail-feathers white-tipped.

Range.--"From western Texas and southern Arizona south to the city of Mexico and Puebla." (Bailey.)

=440. Xantus Hummingbird= (_Basilinna xantusi_). L. 3.6. A white streak behind eye. _Ad._ [Male]. Chin, forehead and cheeks _black_; throat green; tail rusty brown. _Ad._ [Female]. Below uniform rusty, above green; outer tail-feathers rusty brown.

Range.--Lower California, north to Lat. 29A deg.; most common in Cape Region.

=427. Blue-throated Hummingbird= (_CA"ligena clemenciA|_). L. 5.2. A white _stripe_ behind, and a smaller one before eye. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat blue; belly grayish; back green; tail blue-black, outer feathers broadly white tipped. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but throat dusky gray.

Range.--Southern Mexico north. In mountains to mountains of southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona; winters south of United States.

=438. Reiffer Hummingbird= (_Amazilis tzacatl_). L. 4.1. _Ads._ Above, _throat_ and _breast_ shining green; belly _grayish_; tail square, rusty brown, _narrowly_ margined with coppery. _Yng._ Similar but more rusty above.

Range.--Northern South America; north, rarely, to Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

=439. Buff-bellied Hummingbird= (_Amazilis cerviniventris chalconota_). Similar to No. 438, but belly _rusty gray_, tail forked and _broadly_ margined with coppery green.

Range.--Central America, north, in spring, to Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

=440.1. White-eared Hummingbird= (_Basilinna leucotis_). L. 3.7. A white line behind eye. _Ad._ [Male]. Chin, forehead and cheeks _blue_, throat and breast green, tail blackish bronzy green. _Ad._ [Female]. Crown rusty, back bronzy green, below gray spotted with green; outer tail-feathers tipped with gray. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar.

Range.--Nicaragua north, in spring, through mountains to southern Arizona.

=441. Broad-billed Hummingbird= (_Iache latirostris_). L. 4. _Ad._ [Male]. Above green; below darker; throat purplish blue; tail darker. _Ad._ [Female]. Below gray; outer tail-feathers green at base, then bluish black tipped with gray. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to _Ad._ [Female], but tail blue black with faint gray tips; throat with metallic green feathers.

Range.--Southern Mexico; breeds north through mountains to southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

=428. Ruby-throated Hummingbird= (_Trochilus colubris_). L. 3.5; W. 1.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat ruby, chin blackish; tail forked, the feathers pointed. _Ad._ [Female]. Throat grayish, tail-feathers rounded, three outer ones tipped with white. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female] but throat with dusky spots. (See next page)

Range.--Eastern North America, west to about Long. 100A deg.; breeds from Florida and eastern Mexico, north to Labrador and Hudson Bay region; winters from southern Florida to Central America.

=431. Anna Hummingbird= (_Calypte annA|_). L. 3.6. _Ad._ [Male]. _Crown_ and throat glittering purplish pink; feathers at sides of throat much lengthened. _Ad._ [Female]. Above green; below grayish washed with green; throat usually with pink feathers; tail with a narrow white tip. _Yng._ Similar but browner above.

Range.--Western United States, from northern Lower California north to northern California; east to southern Arizona; south in winter to Mexico; recorded from Guadalupe Island.

=432. Broad-tailed Hummingbird= (_Selasphorus platycercus_). L. 4. _Ad._ [Male]. Outer primary very narrow, end sharp; crown green, throat _pink_; tail green above, purplish below without white tips. _Ad._ [Female]. Outer tail-feathers rusty at base, then black with a broad white tip; middle feathers _entirely_ green; above bronzy green; throat feathers with dusky centers; sides rusty.

Range.--Rocky Mountains: west, rarely to eastern California; north to southern Wyoming and Idaho; winters south of United States.

=433. Rufous Hummingbird= (_Selasphorus rufus_), L. 3.6. _Ad._ [Male]. Next to middle pair of tail-feathers _notched_ near tip of inner web; back _reddish brown_ sometimes washed with green. _Ad._ [Female]. Sides _rusty_, back green, throat spotted with green and sometimes ruby, outer tail-feathers rusty at base, then black and a white tip, the feather _more_ than .12 wide; middle tail-feathers green at base, end black. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to [Female] but _all_ tail-feathers rusty at base.

Range.--Western United States; breeds from the higher mountains of southern California and Arizona, north to Lat. 61A deg. in Alaska; during migrations east to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and western Texas; winters in southern Mexico.

=434. Allen Hummingbird= (_Selasphorus alleni_). L. 3.6. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown and _back green_, and tail rusty tipped with dusky, no notch in tail-feathers; in other respects like No. 433. _Ad._ [Female] _and Yng._ [Male]. Like the same of No. 433, but outer tail-feather less than .12 in. wide.

Range.--Pacific coast, from Monterey, California, north to British Columbia; migrates south through Arizona, and southern California to Mexico.

=435. Morcom Hummingbird= (_Atthis morcomi_). L. 2.9. _Ad._ [Female]. Above bronzy green; middle tail-feathers bronzy green tinged with rusty on basal half; rest of tail-feathers rusty brown, then green, then black and tipped with white; below white, sides rusty, throat spotted with bronze-green. (Ridgw.) Male unknown.

Range.--Huachuca Mountains, southern Arizona, (known from one specimen.)

=436. Calliope Hummingbird= (_Stellula calliope_). L. 3. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat purplish pink, white at base _showing through_; above green. _Ad._ [Female]. Sides rusty, throat with green spots, above green, outer tail-feathers gray at base, then black, then white _in nearly equal amounts_. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to [Female].

Range.--Mountains of western United States; breeds north to Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia; west to eastern Oregon and eastern California; winters, south of United States; rare on Pacific coast of United States.

Order XVII. PERCHING BIRDS.

PASSERES.

Family 1. FLYCATCHERS. TyrannidA|. 32 species, 7 subspecies.

Family 2. LARKS. AlaudidA|. 1 species, 13 subspecies.

Family 3. CROWS AND JAYS. CorvidA|. 21 species, 14 subspecies.

Family 4. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. IcteridA|. 18 species,
14 subspecies.

Family 5. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. FringillidA|. 87 species,
92 subspecies.

Family 6. TANAGERS. TanagridA|. 4 species, 1 subspecies.

Family 7. SWALLOWS. HirundinidA|. 9 species, 2 subspecies.

Family 8. WAXWINGS. AmpelidA|. 3 species.

Family 9. SHRIKES. LaniidA|. 2 species, 3 subspecies.

Family 10. VIREOS. VireonidA|. 13 species, 10 subspecies.

Family 11. WARBLERS. MniotiltidA|. 55 species, 18 subspecies.

Family 12. WAGTAILS. MotacillidA|. 3 species.

Family 13. DIPPERS. CinclidA|. 1 species.

Family 14. WRENS, THRASHERS, ETC. TroglodytidA|. 26 species,
24 subspecies.

Family 15. CREEPERS. CerthiidA|. 1 species, 4 subspecies.

Family 16. NUTHATCHES AND TITS. ParidA|. 21 species, 20 subspecies.

Family 17. KINGLETS, GNATCATCHERS, ETC. SylviidA|. 7 species,
3 subspecies.

Family 18. THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, ETC. TurdidA|. 13 species,
14 subspecies.

The North American members of the Order PASSERES are placed in two Suborders, the _Clamatores_, or so-called Songless Perching Birds, which includes all the Flycatchers, and the Suborder _Oscines_, or Singing Perching Birds, which includes all our remaining Perching Birds. While the Flycatchers are therefore technically classed as songless birds, it does not follow that they have no songs. Sing they do, but because of the less developed condition of their voice-producing organ, they cannot give utterance to the longer and more musical songs of the Oscines, which are supplied with a better musical instrument.

The Flycatchers, (Family TyrannidA|) number somewhat over three hundred and fifty species, and are found only in America, where they are most abundant in the tropics. Feeding almost exclusively on insects, those species which visit the United States are of necessity migratory, not more than half a dozen of the thirty species which nest with us, remaining in the United States during the winter, and these are found only on our southern borders.

Flycatchers as a rule, capture their prey on the wing. When perching, their pose is usually erect and hawk-like. They often raise their crown feathers, which in many species are somewhat lengthened, a habit giving them a certain big-headed appearance.

Flycatchers are most useful birds. The food of the Kingbird, for example, a species which is erroneously believed to destroy honey bees, has been found to consist of 90 per cent. insects, mostly injurious species, while only fourteen out of two hundred and eighty-one stomachs contained the remains of honey bees; forty of the fifty bees found being drones.

The true Larks, (Family _AlaudidA|_) are chiefly Old World birds, the Skylark being the best known member of the Family. In America we have only the Horned or Shore Larks, one species of which shows so much climatic variation in color throughout its wide range, that no less than thirteen subspecies or geographical races of it are recognized in the United States.

The Horned Lark is a bird of the plains and prairies and is less common in the Atlantic States than westward. Like the Skylark it sings in the air, but its vocal powers are limited and not to be compared with those of its famous relative.

The Crows and Jays, (Family _CorvidA|_) number about two hundred species of which some twenty-five inhabit the western hemisphere. To this family belong the Raven, Rook, Magpie and Jackdaw, all birds of marked intelligence; and our Crows and Jays are fully worthy of being classed with these widely known and distinguished members of their family.

The Crows and Jays, by varying their food with the season, are rarely at loss for supplies of one kind or another and most species are represented throughout their ranges at all times of the year. In the more northern parts of their homes, however, some of these birds are migratory, and Crows, as is well known, gather in great flocks during the winter, returning each night to a roost frequented, in some instances, by two or three hundred thousand Crows.

While the Crows and Jays are technically 'Song Birds' their voices are far from musical. Nevertheless they possess much range of expression and several species learn to enunciate words with more or less ease.

The Starlings, (Family _SturnidA|_) are Old World birds represented in America only by the European Starling which was introduced into Central Park, New York City, in 1890 and is now common in the surrounding country.

The Blackbirds, Orioles, and Meadowlarks, (Family _IcteridA|_) number about one hundred and fifty species and are found only in the New World. The Blackbirds are most numerous in North America, where, migrating in vast armies and often living in large colonies, they become among the most characteristic and conspicuous of our birds.

The Orioles are most numerous in the tropics, where some thirty species are known. Apparently all of them are remarkable as nest builders, the large Cassiques, nearly related, great yellow and black birds, weaving pouches three and four feet long, several dozen of which, all occupied, may be seen swinging from the branches of a single tree.

The Finches, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, etc., (Family _FringillidA|_) number nearly six hundred species, a greater number than is contained in any other family of birds. They are distributed throughout the world, except in the Australian region, some ninety odd species inhabiting North America.

Varying widely in color, the FringillidA| all agree in possessing stout, conical bills, which are of service to them in crushing the seeds on which they feed so largely.

The streaked, brownish Sparrows, often so difficult of identification, are usually inhabitants of plains, fields, or marshes, where they are rendered inconspicuous by their dull colors. The more gayly attired Grosbeaks, Buntings, Cardinals etc., frequent trees or bushy growths, where their plumage either harmonizes with their surroundings or where they have the protection afforded by the vegetation.

Most of the members of this family are good singers, some of them indeed being noted for their powers of song. They are less migratory than insect-eating birds and some species are with us at all seasons. Their abundance, musical gifts, and constant presence render them, from the field student's point of view, highly important members of the great class Aves.

From an economic standpoint the FringillidA| are no less deserving of our esteem. Some species are of incalculable value as destroyers of the seeds of noxious weeds. Fifteen hundred seeds have been found in the stomach of one Snowflake or Snowbunting, and it has been estimated by Professor Beal, of the Biological Survey of the United States Department of Agriculture, that during the winter season, in the single State of Iowa, where his studies were made, Tree Sparrows devour no less than 875 _tons_ of weed seeds, chiefly of the ragweed.

The Tanagers, (Family _TanagridA|_) are found only in the New World, where they are most numerously represented in the tropics. As a family they are remarkable for the brilliancy of their colors; the common, but mistaken idea that most tropical birds are brightly clad being in no small part due to the abundance of Tanagers and beauty of their plumage.

Only five of the some three hundred and fifty known species reach the United States and these are migratory, coming to us in the spring and returning to the tropics in the fall. Tanagers, as a rule, are not possessed of much vocal ability, our species ranking high in their family as songsters, the notes of many species being far less musical.

Like most gaily costumed birds the plumages of many Tanagers undergo striking changes in color with age and season. The male of our Scarlet Tanager, for example, is olive-green with black wing-coverts during his first winter, the scarlet plumage not being acquired until the following spring. It is worn, however, only during the nesting season after which the less conspicuous olive-green dress is again acquired, the wings and tail, however, remaining black.

Swallows, (Family _HirundinidA|_) are of world-wide distribution, and as might be expected in birds possessing such remarkable powers of flight, many of the species have unusually extended ranges. Our Barn Swallow, for example, is found throughout North America in summer, and in the winter it migrates as far south as southern Brazil.

Birds of the air, the aA"rial habits of Swallows are reflected in their long wings and small, weak feet; while their small bills and broad, widely opening mouths indicate their manner of feeding.

In spite of their poor equipment of tools, Swallows take high rank as nest builders, and it is interesting to observe that although the birds are structurally much alike, their nests often differ widely in character. Compare for instance, the mud-made dwellings of the Barn and Cliff Swallows with the tunneled hole of the Bank Swallow and one realizes how little the character of a bird's home may depend on the structure of it's builder.

The food of Swallows, remarks Professor Beal, "consists of many small species of beetles which are much on the wing, many species of diptera (mosquitoes and their allies), with large quantities of flying ants and a few insects of similar kinds. Most of them are either injurious or annoying, and the numbers destroyed by Swallows are not only beyond calculation, but almost beyond imagination."

The true Waxwings, (Family _AmpelidA|_) number only three species with representatives in the northern parts of both hemispheres. Their notes, as a rule are limited to a few unmusical calls, which, with our Cedar Waxwing, are usually uttered when the bird is about to fly.

Waxwings are found in small flocks during the greater part of the year and roam about the country as though they were quite as much at home in one place as in another, provided food be plenty. Small fruits, chiefly wild ones, constitute their usual fare, but they also feed on insects, the injurious elm beetle being among their victims.

The Shrikes, (Family _LaniidA|_) are represented in America by only two species, the remaining two hundred or more members of this family being found in the Old World. Shrikes are noted for their singular habit of impaling their prey on thorns or similarly sharp-pointed growths, or occasionally they may hang it in the crotch of a limb. This proceeding enables them to tear it to pieces more readily, for it will be observed that while Shrikes have a hawk-like bill, their feet are comparatively weak and sparrow-like and evidently of no assistance to them in dissecting their food.

Our Northern Shrike, or Butcherbird, feeds chiefly on small birds and mice, while the southern species, or Loggerhead, is a great destroyer of grasshoppers and he also eats lizards and small snakes.

The Vireos, (Family _VireonidA|_) number fifty species, all American. They search the foliage carefully for leaf-eating insects and their eggs, and examine the crevices in the bark for eggs of the injurious wood-boring insects. They are therefore unusually beneficial birds.

Bearing a general resemblance in size and color to many of the Warblers, Vireos are sometimes confused with members of that family. They are, however, as a rule, more deliberate in their motions and not such active flutterers as are many of the Warblers. They are also more musical, all the Vireos having characteristic songs, which if not always highly musical, are generally noticeable, pronounced and unmistakable.

The nests of all our Vireos are pendant, deeply cup-shaped structures usually hung between the forks of a crotch, to the arms of which they are most skilfully woven.

The Warblers, (Family _MniotiltidA|_) like the Vireos are distinctly American birds, indeed they may be called characteristic North American birds since most of the one hundred odd species are found north of Mexico. Between thirty and forty species of these active, beautiful little creatures may be found in the course of a year at a single locality in the Eastern States and they therefore constitute an exceedingly important element in our bird-life. Most of them come in May at the height of the spring migration; when the woods often swarm with them as they flit from limb to limb in pursuit of their insect food. The larger number of them pass onward to their northern homes and in September they return to us in increased numbers.

The beauty of their plumage, the briefness but regularity of their visits, the rarity of certain species, combine to make the Warblers especially attractive to the field student and their charms are heightened by the difficulty with which many of them are identified. Study them as we may there are still species which have escaped us.

By far the larger number of Warblers may be described as flutterers that feed agilely about the terminal branches, (genera _Dendroica_ and _Helminthophila_); others are true flycatchers, so far as feeding habit is concerned, (genera _Setophaga_ and _Wilsonia_,) while others still feed in the undergrowth or on the ground, (genera _Geothlypis_ and _Seiurus_). Insects constitute almost their entire fare and they are among our most beneficial birds.

Most of the Wagtails (Family _MotacillidA|_), are inhabitants of the Old World, only three of the sixty odd species being found in this country. Our Pipit or Titlark is our best known, most widely distributed species.

Like other members of its family it has the habit of wagging or tipping its tail both when walking (for it should be noted that these birds are ground-inhabiting and walkers) and at rest.

The Dippers (Family _CinclidA|_) though numbering only twelve species are distributed throughout the larger part of the world from the Andes of South America to the mountains of Alaska, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Everywhere they are haunters of streams, usually dashing mountain torrents, over and _under_ which they seem equally at home. Darting into the rushing waters they fly beneath the surface or feed on the bottom with perfect ease, their thick, dense plumage evidently forming a water-proof covering. Their nests are great balls of moss often placed so near some boiling cascade as to receive frequent showers of spray. The opening, however, is at the side, and the eggs and young are well protected by an effective roof.

The Wrens, Thrashers, and Mockingbirds, (Family _TroglodytidA|_) form two well defined subfamilies. The Wrens, (Subfamily _TroglodytinA|_) number about one hundred and fifty species all but a dozen of which are confined to America. The Thrashers and Mockingbirds, (Subfamily _MiminA|_) number some fifty species, all of which are confined to America.

As their dull, neutral colors would lead us to suppose, both Wrens and Thrashers are inhabitants of the lower growth rather than of the tree-tops, and while they may seek an elevated perch whence to deliver their song, their food is secured and their time consequently largely passed near or on the ground.

Few families of birds contain so many noted musicians, nearly every member of this family being a singer of more than usual ability.

The Creepers, (Family _CerthiidA|_) number twelve species, only one of which is found in America. This, however has a wide range and, presenting more or less climatic variation in color, is recognized under several subspecific names. Its habits, nevertheless, are much the same everywhere. It climbs the trees of the mountains of Mexico or of California with the same ceaseless energy it shows in Maine.

The sharply-pointed, stiffened tail-feathers of the Creeper are of evident use to it as it ascends trees and pauses here and there to pick out an insect's egg from the bark. The same type of tail feather is shown by Woodpeckers, an excellent illustration of similar structure accompanying similar habits in birds not at all closely related.

The Nuthatches and Titmice, (Family _ParidA|_), like the Wrens and Thrashers, belong in two well marked Subfamilies; The Nuthatches, (Subfamily _SittinA|_) number about twenty species, only four of which inhabit America; the Titmice, (Subfamily _ParinA|_) number some seventy-five species, of which thirteen are American.

Nuthatches are tree-creepers, but climbing up or down with equal ease, their tail is not employed as a prop, and consequently shows no special development of pointed or stiffened feathers. Their toes, however, are long, and their nails large and strong, evidently giving them a firm grip on the bark of trees.

The Chickadees are generally resident birds and, as a rule, whatever species we find in a given locality are apt to be there throughout the year. We therefore become better acquainted with some of these lairds than with others which are with us only a short season. This is especially true of our eastern Black-capped Chickadee, which comes familiarly about our homes in winter to partake of the feast of nuts and suet which we spread for him at that season.

Feeding largely on the eggs or larvA| of insects particularly injurious to trees, the Nuthatches and Titmice are of great value to man.

The Kinglets, Gnatcatchers, and Old World Warblers, (Family _SylviidA|_) number about one hundred and twenty-five species, which are divided among the following well-defined subfamilies: The Kinglets, (Subfamily _RegulinA|_) seven species, three of which are American; the Gnatcatchers, (Subfamily _PolioptilinA|_) some fifteen species, all American; the Old World Warblers, (Subfamily _SylviinA|_) about one hundred species, all Old World except one which inhabits the Bering Sea coast of Alaska.

The Kinglets are small, olive green birds which may be mistaken for Warblers but, aside from structural differences not evident in the field, they may be known by their smaller size, greater tameness, and habit of nervously flitting their wings at frequent intervals. One of our species, the Ruby-crown, possesses a remarkably loud, clear, and musical song, a surprising performance for so tiny a songster. Kinglets build large nests of moss and feathers and lay as many as ten eggs.

The Gnatcatchers are small, slender, grayish birds which once well seen will not be confused with other species. The Gnatcatchers, like the Kinglets, are architects of more than usual ability, building a nest beautifully covered with lichens. The Thrushes, (Family _TurdidA|_) are variously classified by different ornithologists, but under the ruling of the American Ornithologists' Union they are grouped in the same family with the Bluebird, Solitaires, and Stonechats. This family numbers about three hundred species, of which about one-half are true Thrushes (Subfamily _TurdinA|_). The members of this subfamily are, as a rule, fine singers, many of them being among the best known song birds, and from a musical point of view the group, as a whole, is usually given the first place among birds. If, however, all the fifteen known species of Solitaires sing as well as the four species it has been my privilege to hear, I am assured that no one would dispute their claim to the highest rank which can be awarded singing birds.

In the succeeding pages, the five hundred and fifty odd species and subspecies included in the preceding families of the Order Passeres are grouped according to some obvious color character in order to facilitate their identification in life. A satisfactory arrangement of this kind is out of the question. Lines sharply separating the groups proposed do not exist and some species appear to fit in one section as well as in another. Nevertheless, it is hoped that in most instances, the system will be found to serve the purpose intended. Under its ruling our Perching Birds are grouped as follows:

1. With red markings.

2. With blue markings.

3. With orange or yellow markings.

4. With reddish brown or chestnut markings, chiefly in the form of
patches or uniformly colored areas.

5. Brownish, generally streaked birds.

6. Dull, inconspicuously colored birds, without prominent markings.

7. Gray, black, or black and white birds.

While the first object of the bird student is to learn to name birds I would again urge him to acquaint himself with at least the arrangement of the Orders and Families of our birds and their leading structural characters. (see page 2.)

Having identified a bird, its family may always be determined by referring to its number in the systematic list of birds at the end of the book; and the more important characters of its Order and Family will be found in the synopsis of Orders and Families beginning on page 9.

Perching Birds Marked With Red

=607. Louisiana Tanager= (_Piranga ludoviciana_). L. 7.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Yellow; back, wings, and tail black, head more or less red. _Ad._ [Female]. Above olive-green, head rarely red-tinged; below dusky greenish yellow; wings and tail brownish edged with greenish, two yellowish white wing-bars. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but head and rump greener, underparts yellower. _Notes._ Call, _clit-tuck_; song, resembles that of No. 608.

Range.--Western United States from the Plains to the Pacific; breeds from Arizona to British Columbia; winters in Mexico and Central America.

=608. Scarlet Tanager= (_Piranga erythromelas_). L. 7.4. _Ad._ [Male]. Scarlet; wings and tail black. _Ad._ [Female]. Olive-green, yellower below, wings and tail blackish brown, no wing-bars. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but brighter, wing-coverts black. _Ad._ [Male], _Winter_. Like Yng. [Female], but wings and tail black. _Notes._ Call, _chip-churr_; song, a rather forced whistle, suggesting a Robin's song, but less musical, _Look-up_, _way-up_, _look-at-me_, _tree-top_; repeated with pauses.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains: breeds from Virginia and southern Illinois north to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters in Central and South America.

=609. Hepatic Tanager= (_Piranga hepatica_). L. 7.8. Bill large. _Ad._ [Male]. Vermilion, back grayish; tail dull red. _Ad._ [Female]. _No wing-bars_; above _grayish_ olive; crown and tail greener; below dusky yellow. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female]. and variously intermediate between it and ad. [Male]. _Notes._ Call, _clut-tuck_; song, like that of No. 608, but somewhat more robin-like.

Range.--From Guatemala north in spring to New Mexico and Arizona; winters in Mexico and Central America.

=610. Summer Tanager= (_Piranga rubra_). L. 7.5; W. 3.8. _Ad._ [Male]. Rosy red. _Ad._ [Female]. 9. Olive-yellow above, dusky saffron below. _Yng._ [Male]. Variously intermediate between Ad. [Male] and [Female]. _Notes._ Call, _chicky-tucky-tuck_; song, resembles in form that of No. 608 but is more musical and less forced.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains; breeds from Florida and western Texas north to southern New Jersey, southern Illinois, and Kansas; winters in Central and South America.

=610a. Cooper Tanager= (_P. r. cooperi_). Similar to No. 610, but larger; W. 4; bill more swollen, colors paler.

Range.--"Breeds from southwestern Texas to the Colorado Valley, California, and from Arizona and New Mexico to northwestern Mexico; south in winter to western Mexico; casually to Colorado."

=593. Cardinal= (_Cardinalis cardinalis_). L. 9; W. 3.7; T. 4.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Forehead with a well-defined black band; feathers of back (except in worn plumage) tipped with _olive-brown_ or _olive-gray_. _Ad._ [Female]. Above olive-brown; crest, wings and tail dull red edged with olive-brown; throat and region at base of bill gray; breast buffy, sometimes tinged with red; belly whiter. _Notes._ Call, a sharp, insignificant _tsip_; song, a rich, sympathetic whistle, _whe-e-e-you_, _whe-e-e_, _hurry-hurry-hurry_, _quick-quick-quick_, and other notes.

Range.--Eastern United States; resident from northern Florida and eastern Texas north to southern New York and Iowa.

=593a. Arizona Cardinal= (_C. c. superbus_). Largest of our Cardinals, L. 9.5; W. 4; T. 4.9. _Ad._ [Male]. Paler, more rosy, than No. 593; margins to back feathers usually gray; black on forehead usually separated by base of culmen. _Ad._ [Female]. Gray above like No. 593c, but breast richer, much as in No. 593d; gray of throat more restricted and often confined to the chin.

Range.--Southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico.

=593b. Saint Lucas Cardinal= (_C. c. igneus_). Similar to No. 593a, but smaller; W. 3.6; T. 4; [Male] with even less, sometimes almost no black on forehead; [Female] paler; gray on chin and about base of bill less defined.

Range.--Southern Lower California.

=593c. Gray-tailed Cardinal= (_C. c. canicaudus_). W. 3.7. _Ad._ [Male]. Red bright as in No. 593d, but black on forehead narrower, usually separated by base of culmen. _Ad._ [Female]. Grayer than [Female] of No. 593, the edgings of wings and tail usually gray _without_ an olive tinge.

Range.--Texas, except western and northeastern parts, and northeastern Mexico.

=593d. Florida Cardinal= (_C. c. floridanus_). Smaller than No. 593, W. 3.4; [Male] averaging deeper red; [Female] darker and richer in color, particularly on breast.

Range.--Southern half of Florida.

=594. Arizona Pyrrhuloxia= (_Pyrrhuloxia sinuata_). L. 9; W. 3.6; T. 4.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Gray; in fresh plumage washed with brownish; crest, wings and tail externally dull red; under wing-coverts, center of breast and of belly, throat, and region about base of bill, rosy red. _Ad._ [Female]. Usually little or no red about bill or on underparts. _Notes._ Call, several flat, thin notes; song, a clear, straight whistle. (Bailey.)

Range.--Northwestern Mexico, north to western Texas, southwestern New Mexico, and Arizona.

=594a. Texas Pyrrhuloxia= (_P. s. texana_). Similar to No. 594, but bill larger; underparts averaging slightly grayer; red before eyes averaging duskier.

=594b. Saint Lucas Pyrrhuloxia= (_P. s. peninsulA|_). Similar in color to No. 594, but decidedly smaller, with the bill larger; W. 3.4; T. 3.7. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Cape Region of Lower California.

=515. Pine Grosbeak= (_Pinicola enucleator leucura_). L. 8.5; W. 4.6. _Ad._ [Male]. Rosy red in varying amounts; belly gray; wings, tail and center of back feathers blackish brown; two white wing-bars. _Ad._ [Female]. Gray, head and rump greenish; breast tinged with greenish. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but with head and rump reddish. _Notes._ Song, sweet; in winter strong and cheery; in spring tender and plaintive. (Chamberlain.)

Range.--Northeastern North America; breeds from New Brunswick and northern New England northward; winters south, irregularly, to southern New England, Ohio, and Manitoba, and casually to District of Columbia and Kansas.

=515a. Rocky Mountain Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. montana_). Similar to No. 515b, but decidedly larger, W. 4.8, and coloration slightly darker; the adult male with the red of a darker, more carmine hue. (Ridgw.)

Range.--"Rocky Mountains of United States, from Montana and Idaho to New Mexico." (Ridgway.)

=515b. California Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. californica_). Similar to No. 515, but [Male] with red much brighter; feathers of back plain ashy gray without darker centers; [Female] with little if any greenish on rump.

Range.--Higher parts of "Central Sierra Nevada, north to Placer County and south to Fresno County, California." (Grinnell.)

=515c. Alaskan Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. alascensis_). Similar to No. 515, but decidedly larger with smaller or shorter bill and paler coloration, both sexes having the gray parts of the plumage distinctly lighter, more ashy. (Ridgw.)

Range.--"Northwestern North America except Pacific coast, breeding in interior of Alaska; south, in winter, to eastern British Columbia, Montana (Bitterroot Valley), etc." (Ridgway.)

=515d. Kadiak Pine Grosbeak= (_P. e. flammula_). Similar to No. 515, but with much larger, relatively longer and more strongly hooked bill; wings and tail grayish brown instead of dull blackish.

Range.--"Kadiak Island and south on the coast to Sitka, Alaska." (Ridgway.)

=521. American Crossbill= (_Loxia curvirostra minor_). L. 6.1; W. 3.4; B. .66. Tips of mandibles crossed. _Ad._ [Male]. Red, more or less suffused with greenish or yellow. _Ad._ [Female]. Olive-green, rump and underparts yellower. _Yng._ Resemble Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Calls, when feeding, a conversational twittering; louder and more pronounced when flying; song, sweet, varied and musical, but of small volume.

Range.--Northern North America, chiefly eastward; breeds from northern New England (in Alleghanies from Georgia) north and west to Alaska; winters south irregularly to Virginia and Nevada; casually to South Carolina and Louisiana.

=521a. Mexican Crossbill= (_L. c. stricklandi_). Similar to No. 521, but larger; W. 4; B. .78.

Range.--"Mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, west to the Sierra Nevada, and south through New Mexico, Arizona and the tablelands of Mexico to Guatemala." (A.O.U.)

=522. White-winged Crossbill= (_Loxia leucoptera_). L. 6. Tips of mandibles crossed. _Ad._ [Male]. Rose-pink; middle of back black; wings with _two white bars_. _Ad._ [Female]. Olive-green and dusky; rump and underparts yellower; _wings with two white bars_. _Yng._ Like Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 521.

Range.--Northern North America; breeds from northern New England, northern New York and northern Michigan northward; winters south irregularly to Virginia, Illinois, British Columbia, and Nevada.

=595. Rose-breasted Grosbeak= (_Zamelodia ludoviciana_). L. 8. _Ad._ [Male]. Black; rump, belly, tips of inner vanes of outer tail-feathers and patch in wing white; under wing-coverts and breast rose. _Ad._ [Female]. Under wing-coverts saffron; above streaked brown and black; below whitish streaked with blackish; a _white line over eye_; two white wing-bars. _Yng._ [Male]. Resembles [Female], but under wing-coverts _rose_; breast more or less rose-tinged. _Notes._ Call, a sharp, steely _peek_; song, a rich, fluent, joyous carol.

Range.--Eastern United States, west to the Plains; breeds from northern New Jersey, northern Ohio, and northern Indiana (and south in Alleghanies to North Carolina), north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba; winters in Central and South America.

=517. Purple Finch= (_Carpodacus purpureus_). L. 6.2; W. 3.2. Bill swollen and rounded; nostrils large, partially covered by projecting, grayish, bristly feathers; tail slightly forked. _Ad._ [Male]. Dull rose, head and rump brightest; back brownish; lower belly white. _Ad._ [Female]. Above grayish brown, slightly edged with whitish and brownish ashy; below white streaked with dark brownish; a more or less distinct whitish stripe over the eye. _Yng._ Resemble Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Call, _creak, creak_, and a querulous whistle; song, a sweet, rapidly flowing warble. (See page 175.)

Range.--Eastern North America, west to the Plains; breeds from northern New Jersey, the mountains of Pennsylvania, and northern Illinois northward; winters from the northern States to the Gulf of Mexico.

=517a. California Purple Finch= (_C. p. californicus_). Similar to No. 517, but [Male] duller and darker; [Female] _decidedly_ olive greenish above. (See page 175.)

Range.--Pacific coast region; breeds in the mountains of California; west of the Sierra north to British Columbia; winters from central Oregon to southern Arizona.

=518. Cassin Purple Finch= (_Carpodacus cassini_). L. 6.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Similar to Ad. [Male] of No. 517 and No. 517a, but back much blacker, streaks more sharply defined; crown as bright but appearing _like a cap_; below much paler. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar to Ad. [Female] of No. 517a, but larger and more sharply streaked with black, both above and below. _Notes._ Resemble those of No. 517.

Range.--Western United States, east to the eastern base of the Rockies, west to the Pacific; breeds in the mountains from New Mexico north to British Columbia.

=519. House Finch= (_Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis_). L. 6.1; W. 3.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat, breast, _forehead_, _line over eye_, and rump, bright rose-red; back grayish brown tinged with red; belly white, streaked with brownish. _Ad._ [Female]. Above brownish gray obscurely streaked with brownish, _no olive_ tint; below white streaked with brownish. _Ad._ [Male] _in Winter_. Red areas dull purplish pink tipped with grayish. _Yng._ Resemble Ad. [Female]. _Notes._ Call, nasal, in chorus, chattering; song, a musical cheery, varied warble, reminding one of that of No. 517, but recognizably different.

Range.--Western United States, east to the Plains, west to the Pacific, and from northern Mexico north to southern Wyoming and Oregon.

=519b. St. Lucas House Finch= (_C. m. ruberrimus_). Similar to No. 519, but smaller, W. 2.8; red more extended, always showing in males on under tail-coverts.

Range.--Southern Lower California.

=519c. San Clemente House Finch= (_C. m. clementis_). Similar to No. 519, but wing and tail averaging shorter, the bill decidedly, and feet slightly larger; coloration somewhat darker. W. 3; B. .48. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Santa Barbara Island, California; Todos Santos Island, Lower California.

=520. Guadalupe House Finch= (_Carpodacus amplus_). Similar to No. 519, but red deeper; back dark brown without red suffusion.

Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.

=520.1 San Benito House Finch= (_Carpodacus mcgregori_). Similar to No. 519, but much larger with relatively shorter wings and tail; above much grayer and more distinctly streaked; red areas paler, more flesh-colored, often dull yellow; W. 3.2; T. 2.5; B. .5. (Ridgw.)

Range.--San Benito Island, Lower California.

=527. Greenland Redpoll= (_Acanthis hornemannii_). L. 6.1; W. 3.3. A red crown-patch. _Ad._ [Male]. Rump, lower breast, sides and belly _white_, generally _unstreaked_; breast and rump sometimes faintly tinged with pink. In winter. Throat, breast, and above washed with buff. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar to [Male], but no pink on breast or rump, sides sometimes lightly streaked.

Range.--Breeds in Greenland; winters south to Labrador.

=527a. Hoary Redpoll= (_A. h. exilipes_). Similar to No. 527 but smaller and darker; rump still _white_, but with sides more apt to be streaked; L. 5; W. 3; T. 2.3; B. .3.

Range.--Breeds in Arctic regions; in America, winters south irregularly to Massachusetts, Ontario, northern Illinois, and Michigan.

=528. Redpoll= (_Acanthis linaria_). L. 5.3; W. 2.8; T. 2.3. B. .36. Crown-cap red. _Ad._ [Male]. Above blackish brown edged with yellowish brown and some whitish; rump _heavily_ streaked with blackish edged with whitish and tinged with rose; breast rose; sides heavily streaked. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but no pink on rump or breast. _Yng._ [Male]. Like female. _Notes._ Call like that of Goldfinch or Siskin and _chit_; song like that of American Goldfinch but distinct. (Minot.)

Range.--Breeds in northern parts of northern hemisphere; in America, winters south to northern United States, irregularly to Virginia, Alabama, Kansas, Colorado, and northern California.

=528a. HolbA"ll Redpoll= (_A. l. holbA"llii_). Similar to No. 528, but larger, the bill longer; W. 3.2; T. 2.3; B. .38.

Range.--Breeds in northern parts of northern hemisphere; in America, winters south, casually to northern United States, (Quebec, Ontario, and Massachusetts.)

=528b. Greater Redpoll= (_A. l. rostrata_). Similar to No. 528, but larger, above darker; L. 5.5; W. 3.2; T. 2.5; B. .35; depth at base, .28.

Range.--"Southern Greenland in summer, migrating south in winter, through Labrador to (sparingly) the northern border of the United States, (New England, lower Hudson Valley, northern Illinois, etc.), and west to Manitoba." (Ridgway.)

=749. Ruby-crowned Kinglet= (_Regulus calendula_). L. 4.4. A conspicuous whitish eye-ring. _Ad._ [Male]. A more or less concealed vermilion crown-patch; back olive-green; underparts soiled whitish more or less tinged with buffy; two white wing-bars. _Ad._ [Female] _and Yng._ Similar, but no crown-patch. _Notes._ Call, a wren-like _cack_; song, a surprisingly loud, rich, musical, varied, flute-like whistle.

Range.--North America; breeds from the northern border of the United States northward and south in the Rocky Mountains to Arizona and on the Sierra Nevada of California; winters from South Carolina and Oregon southward to Central America.

=749a. Sitkan Kinglet= (_R. c. grinnelli_). Similar to No. 749, but more olive-green above, more buffy below.

Range.--Pacific coast; breeds In southern Alaska; winters southward to California.

=750. Dusky Kinglet= (_Regulus obscurus_). Similar to No. 749, but above sooty olive. _Ad._ [Male]. With crown-patch pinkish or purplish vermilion-red. (Ridgw.) (See page 176.)

Range.--Guadalupe Island, Lower California.

--=European Goldfinch= (_Carduelis carduelis_). L. 5.50. Feathers at base of bill red; crown and neck-stripe black; back brownish; wings with a yellow band; inner webs of tail-feathers tipped with white; below white tinged with brownish. _Notes._ Call, _twit_; song, "sweet and varied." (See page 176.)

Range.--Introduced in this country near Hoboken, N. J., in 1878; now not uncommon near New York City.

=443. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher= (_Muscivora forficata_). L. 14.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Above gray, back washed with red or yellow; crown-patch red. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but tail shorter, red less bright, back grayer. _Notes._ Loud, harsh, chattering notes uttered on the wing.

Range.--Central America and Mexico; breeds through Texas north to southern Kansas and western Louisiana, and winters south to Central America: accidental in Florida and as far north as Connecticut and Hudson Bay.

=471. Vermilion Flycatcher= (_Pyrocephalus rubineus mexicanus_). L. 6. _Ad._ [Male]. Crown and underparts red; back grayish brown. _Ad._ [Female]. Above brownish, below white, breast streaked with dusky, belly red or yellow. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to [Female] but spotted with red below and on crown. _Notes._ A shrill _zi-brA(C)A(C)_, _zi-brA(C)A(C)_, uttered while the bird hovers twenty or thirty feet up in the air. (Bendire.)

Range.--Central America and Mexico, breeding north to southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southwestern Utah (rarely); "winter visitant to southern California." (Grinnell.)

=688. Painted Redstart= (_Setophaga picta_). L. 5.4. _Ads._ Black; center of breast and belly deep red, patch in wings and outer tail-feathers white.

Range--Mexican Plateau north to southwest New Mexico and Arizona.

=690. Red-faced Warbler= (_Cardellina rubrifrons_). L. 5.2. _Ads._ Forehead, face, throat and sides of neck red, crown and ear-coverts black, nape band and rump whitish; back gray; no white in wings or tail. _Notes._ A prolonged, very clear, whistled song. (Scott.)

Range.--From Guatemala north over the Mexican Plateau to southern Arizona and western New Mexico.

=498. Red-winged Blackbird= (_Agelaius phA"niceus_). L. [Male], 9.5; W. 4.7; B. .88; depth at base, .5. _Ad._ [Male]. Black, in winter more or less tipped with rusty; lesser wing-coverts scarlet; median wing-coverts buff, tips in summer whitish. _Ad._ [Female]. Above brownish black, widely margined with buffy and rusty; below whitish heavily streaked with black; throat tinged with orange or yellow; lesser wing-coverts tinged with red. _Yng._ [Male]. Similar to _Ad._ [Male], but heavily margined with rusty above and less so below; lesser wing-coverts duller and narrowly edged with black. _Notes._ Call, _chA"t_, _chA"ck_, a reedy _cack_; song, a chorus song, a liquid _kong-quAe•r-rAe"Ae"_; alarm note a shrill _chee-e-e-e-e_. The notes of this species are subject to much variation with locality, but I find it impossible to express on paper differences perfectly apparent when heard.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds from Gulf of Mexico north to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters from Virginia and southern Illinois southward.

=498a. Sonoran Red-wing= (_A. p. sonoriensis_). Similar to No. 498, but larger, bill more slender; [Female] paler, streaking below browner. W. [Female], 4.8; B. .95; depth at base .5.

Range.--Lower Colorado Valley in California and Arizona, southern Arizona and south over coast plain of Sonora; Cape St. Lucas.

=498b. Bahaman Red-wing= (_A. p. bryanti_). Similar to No. 498, but bill slightly longer, the female streaked below with brownish instead of black.

Range.--Bahamas and southern Florida.

=498c. Florida Red-wing= (_A. p. floridanus_). Similar to No. 498, but smaller, the bill longer and more slender; [Male], W. 4.2; B. .9; depth at base .4.

Range.--Florida, except extreme southern portion; west along Gulf coast to Texas.

=498d. Thick-billed Red-wing= (_A. p. fortis_). Similar to No. 498, but larger, bill shorter and proportionately thicker. W. 5; B. .8; depth at base .5.

Range.--Breeds on Mackenzie River, Athabasca, and other interior districts of British America; during migrations Great Plains, from Rockies to Minnesota, Iowa, western Illinois, northern Kentucky, and southwest to western Texas and Arizona. (Ridgway.)

=498e. San Diego Red-wing= (_A. p. neutralis_). Similar to No. 498a, but slightly smaller, the [Female] with streaks below wider. W. 4.7; B. .95; depth at base .5.

Range.--Great Basin region from southern British Columbia south to Mexico, western Texas, to southern California and northern Lower California; in winter as far east as Brownsville, Texas. (Ridgway.)

=498f. Northwestern Red-wing= (_A. p. caurinum_). Similar to No. 498, but slightly larger, bill somewhat longer and more slender, the [Male] with median wing-coverts deeper buff, the [Female] much darker, streaks below wider, darkest [Female] of group. W. 4.8; B. .9; depth at base .45.

Range.--Pacific coast from northern California to British Columbia; south in winter to southern California.

=499. Bicolored Blackbird= (_Agelaius gubernator californicus_). _Ad._ [Male]. Similar to No. 498, but median wing-coverts darker and broadly tipped with black, concealing as a rule, their brownish bases. _Ad._ [Female]. Very different from [Female] of No. 498; above and below blackish slightly edged with rusty. _Notes._ Similar in character to those of No. 498, but with easily recognizable differences. (See page 178.)

Range.--Pacific coast; breeds from northern Lower California northward, west of Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges, to Washington; migratory at north part of range.

=500. Tricolored Blackbird= (_Agelaius tricolor_). _Ad._ [Male]. Similar to No. 498, but glossier, lesser wing-coverts darker, median wing-coverts _white_; in winter black more or less edged with grayish brown; median wing-coverts dingy. _Ad._ [Female]. No rusty; above blackish edged with grayish; below black bordered with whitish. _Notes._ "Said to be quite different" from those of No. 498. (Bendire.) (See page 178.)

Range.--Northern Lower California north to southern Oregon; local in valleys of interior.

=523. Aleutian Leucosticte= (_Leucosticte griseonucha_). Like No. 524a, but much darker, breast chestnut-chocolate; larger, W. 4.4.

Range.--Islands of Bering Sea (resident); in winter, Shumagin Islands, lower portion of Alaska Peninsula and Kadiak Island.

=524. Gray-crowned Leucosticte= (_Leucosticte tephrocotis_). L. 6.7; W. 4.1. _Ad._ [Male]. Reddish brown more or less tipped with grayish; rump, upper tail-coverts, lesser wing-coverts, outer edges of primaries, and lower belly tipped with _pink_; forecrown black; hindhead gray; cheeks _down to blackish throat brown_. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar but duller. _Yng._ Nearly uniform brownish; margins of primaries showing some pink. _Notes._ A quick alarm note, _qui_, _qui_. (Silloway.)

Range.--Western United States; breeds in higher parts of Sierra Nevada of California, from Mt. Shasta south to Mt. Whitney, and on White Mountains (Grinnell); north in Rocky Mountains to British Columbia; in winter east to Manitoba, Colorado, and Nebraska.

=524a. Hepburn Leucosticte= (_L. t. littoralis_). Similar to No. 524, but cheeks _gray_ like hindhead; throat often grayish.

Range.--Higher mountains of Washington and British Columbia; north to Alaska; winters south to Colorado and, on Pacific Coast, as far north as Kadiak Island.

=525. Black Leucosticte= (_Leucosticte atrata_). Similar to No. 524, but brown replaced by brownish black in _Ad._ [Male], or dusky slate brownish in _Ad._ [Female] and _Yng._

Range.--Breeds on higher mountains of Idaho and Wyoming; winters south to Colorado and Utah.

=526. Brown-capped Leucosticte= (_Leucosticte australis_). Resembles No. 524, but little or no gray on hindhead, the black of forehead passing gradually into brown of nape and back.

Range.--Breeds in mountains of Colorado at about 12000 feet altitude, winters at lower altitudes and south to New Mexico.

Perching Birds Marked With Blue

=599. Lazuli Bunting= (_Cyanospiza amA"na_). L. 5.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Two white wing-bars; breast cinnamon, throat and upperparts light blue; back blacker. In winter more or less tipped with rusty. _Ad._ [Female]. Middle wing-coverts _tipped_ with _whitish_; above grayish brown with generally a blue tinge, strongest on rump and lesser wing-coverts; below whitish, breast buff. _Yng._ Like [Female], but browner, no blue. _Notes._ Suggest those of the Indigo Bunting.

Range.--Western United States, east to western Kansas; breeds north to Montana and British Columbia; winters in Mexico.

=600. Varied Bunting= (_Cyanospiza versicolor_). L. 5.5. _Ad._ [Male]. Reddish purple, crown and rump blue, nape red. _Ad._ [Female]. Above brownish gray; below whitish washed with buff; a slight tinge of blue on rump, wings and tail. Much like [Female] of No. 598, but less brown above and no streaks below. _Yng._ Resemble [Female].

Range.--Mexico; breeding north to southern Texas and southern Arizona; winters south of United States.

=600a. Beautiful Bunting= (_C. v. pulchra_). Similar to No. 600, but slightly smaller, rump more purple, throat with less red.

Range.--Southern Lower California.

=601. Painted Bunting; Nonpareil= (_Cyanospiza ciris_). L. 5.4. _Ad._ [Male]. Below red, rump duller, back green, head dark blue. _Ad._ [Female]. _Bright_, shining olive-green above; greenish yellow below. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female]; second year variously intermediate between Ad. [Male] and [Female]. _Notes._ Resemble those of the Indigo Bunting but possess less volume.

Range.--Southern United States; breeds north to North Carolina, southern Illinois, and Kansas, and west to southern Arizona; winters in Mexico and Central America.

=654. Black-throated Blue Warbler= (_Dendroica cA|rulescens_). L. 5.2. A white patch or spot at base of primaries. _Ad._ [Male]. Throat and sides black; belly white; above dark grayish blue; outer tail-feathers with white. _Ad._ [Female]. Grayish olive-green; below yellowish white; a narrow white line over eye; white wing-patch small, sometimes barely showing above coverts; tail with a bluish tinge. _Yng._ [Male]. Like _Ad._ [Female], but greenish above; black areas smaller and tipped with whitish. _Notes._ Call, a sharp, characteristic _chip_; song, usually, _zwee-zwee-zwee_ in an ascending scale.

Range.--Eastern North America; breeds from northern Connecticut, mountains of Pennsylvania, southern Michigan, and northern Minnesota, north to Labrador and Hudson Bay region; winters in Central and South America.

=654a. Cairns Warbler= (_D. c. cairnsi_). Similar to No. 654, but [Male] darker, the back with more or less black; [Female] darker and duller.

Range.--Breeds in higher portions of southern Alleghanies; winters south of United States.

=658. Cerulean Warbler= (_Dendroica cerulea_). L. 5. _Ad._ [Male]. A gray-blue breast band; above bright gray-blue streaked with black; wing-bars and spots in tail white. _Ad._ [Female] and _Yng._ [Male]. Above blue-gray washed with greenish, below yellowish white; a whitish line over eye. _Notes._ Call, a warbler _lisp_ and _tchip_ of the Myrtle Warbler; song resembling that of Parula Warbler. (Brewster.) (See page 180.)

Range.--Mississippi Valley, breeding north to Minnesota and east to Cayuga County, New York, Maryland, and West Virginia; generally rare east of Alleghanies; migrates south through Texas and winters in Central and South America.

=597. Blue Grosbeak= (_Guiraca cA|rulea_). L. 7; W. 3.4. _Ad._ [Male]. Deep, dark blue, back blacker and sometimes with brownish edgings; lesser wing-coverts broadly, greater wing-coverts narrowly tipped with chestnut. In winter more or less tipped with brownish above and below. _Ad._ [Female]. Above grayish brown, deepest on head; below grayish white washed with buffy; wing-bars buff. Some specimens show more or less blue, particularly about head. _Yng._ [Male]. Like [Female], but browner. _Notes._ Call, a strong, harsh, _ptchick_; song, a beautiful but feeble warble, somewhat like that of Purple Finch and with a slight resemblance to that of Rose-breasted Grosbeak. (Ridgw.)

Range.--Eastern United States; breeds from the Gulf north to Maryland and southern Illinois; winters south of United States into Mexico and Central America; casually north as far as Maine and Quebec.

=597a. Western Blue Grosbeak= (_G. c. lazula_). Similar to No. 597, but larger, W. 3.6; male brighter blue; back blacker; tips of wing-coverts paler, those of greater coverts usually decidedly paler than those of lesser coverts and averaging wider than those of No. 597. Female averaging paler, less brown.

Range.--Western United States; breeds from Mexico north to Kansas, southern Nebraska, Colorado, and northern California; winters in Mexico and Central America.