The Bird Book Part 79

572. GUADALUPE JUNCO. _Junco insularis._

Range.--Guadalupe Island off Lower California

Resembles the Pink-sided Junco but is smaller, darker and duller colored. They are common on the island where they nest in the pine groves, laying their first sets in February or March. The nests are like those of the genus and the eggs are greenish white, finely dotted with reddish brown at the large end. Size .77 .60.

573. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. _Amphispiza bilineata bilineata._

Range.--Breeds from central Texas to Kansas; winters in southern Texas and Mexico.

This species is grayish brown above, with black throat, white superciliary and line on side of throat. This is a common species that nests on the ground or at low elevations in bushes, making their nests of weed stems and gra.s.ses. The three to five eggs are bluish white, unmarked and similar to those of the Bluebird but smaller.

Size .72 .55.

573a. DESERT SPARROW. _Amphispiza bilineata deserticola._

Range.--Southwestern United States from western Texas to southern California, and north to Colorado and Nevada; winters in Mexico.

Like the last but paler above. An abundant bird among the foothills and on plains throughout its range. Found generally in sage brush and thickets where it nests in bushes or on the ground laying three or four bluish white eggs like those of the last.

574. BELL'S SPARROW. _Amphispiza belli._

Range.--Southern half of California and southward.

These grayish, black and white birds are abundant in sage brush and thickets, nesting on the ground or at low elevations in bushes, and during May or June, laying from three to four eggs of a pale greenish white color, spotted and blotched with reddish brown and purplish. Size .75 .60.

[Ill.u.s.tration 353: Black-throated Sparrow.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bluish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: 573a--574.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 352

574.1. Sage Sparrow. _Amphispiza nevadensis nevadensis._

Range.--Sage deserts of the Great Basin from Oregon and Montana, south to Mexico.

This sub-species is abundant throughout its range where it nests near or on the ground, in or under bushes and generally concealed from view. The nests are made of gra.s.s and sage bark lined with fine gra.s.s; the eggs are like those of the last species, greenish white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown and purplish.

574.1a. GRAY SAGE SPARROW. _Amphispiza nevadensis cinerea._

Range.--A smaller and paler variety found in Lower California.

The nests and eggs of this pale variety probably do not differ in any respect from those of the better known varieties.

575. PINE-WOODS SPARROW. _Peucaea aestivalis aestivalis._

Range.--Florida and southern Georgia.

These birds are common in restricted localities in their range, nesting on the ground under bushes or shrubs; the nests are made of gra.s.ses and the four or five eggs are pure white with a slight gloss. Size .75 .60. The birds are said to be fine singers and to frequent, almost exclusively, pine barrens.

475a. BACHMAN'S SPARROW. _Peucaea aestivalis bachmani._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Indiana and Illinois.

This variety is common in most localities in its range, frequenting pine woods and barrens chiefly, and nesting on the ground in May or June.

Their nests are made of gra.s.ses and lined with very fine gra.s.s, and have the tops completely arched over leaving a small entrance on the side.

The eggs are pure white with a slight gloss and measure .75 .60.

576. BOTTERI'S SPARROW. _Peucaea botterii._

Range.--Mexican plateau north to southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

They nest in abundance in tall gra.s.s in the lowlands of their range, the nests being difficult to find because the bird flushes with great difficulty. The nests are on the ground, made of gra.s.s, and the three to five eggs are pure white, measuring .75 .60.

[Ill.u.s.tration 354: 574.1--576.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 353

578. Ca.s.sIN'S SPARROWS. _Peucaea ca.s.sini._

Range.--Plains and valleys from Texas and Arizona north to Kansas and Nevada.

These birds breed in numbers on the arid plains, placing their gra.s.s nests on the ground at the foot of small bushes or concealed in tufts of gra.s.s, and during May lay four pure white eggs which are of the same size and indistinguishable from those of others of the genus.

579. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. _Aimophila carpalis._

Range.--Plains of western Mexico and north to southern Arizona.

This pale colored bird bears a remote resemblance to the Tree Sparrow.

They nest commonly in dry arid regions, placing their nests at low elevations in bushes or cacti, preferably young mesquites, and making them of coa.r.s.e gra.s.s lined with finer. Two broods are raised a season and from May to August sets of four or five plain bluish white eggs may be found. Size .75 .60.

580. RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW. _Aimophila ruficeps ruficeps._

Range.--Local in southern half of California and in Lower California.

A brownish colored species both above and below, which is found on mountains and hillsides in restricted localities. They nest on the ground placing their gra.s.s structures in hollows, usually at the foot of a small bush or shrub and well concealed. They lay from three to five pale bluish white eggs. Size .80 .60.