SONG BIRDS ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO BAY. 
BY CHAS. A. KEELER. 
The purpose of the present paper is to note the birds commonly 
in song in the vicinity of San Francisco Bay during each season, 
with remarks on any points of special interest in their songs. The 
notes on which the paper is based have been made almost exclu- 
sively in the vicinity of Berkeley, Alameda county, although some 
observations have been made at various other points. Twenty- 
eight species of birds have been recorded in song about the bay, of 
which number four are heard nearly the entire year. Of the re- 
maining species two are seldom heard except during the winter 
months, eleven sing only in spring or during the latter part of win- | 
ter, eight sing exclusively in summer, and two throughout the spring 
and summer. 
During the early part of winter bird-songs proper are never, or 
at least very seldom heard, and even the species included in the list 
of those singing all the year are silenced. The first song heard 
in winter is the sweet flute-like strain of the western meadow - lark 
(Sturnella magna neglecta). Its song is generally heard for the 
first time in the latter half of December on the bright mild days. 
which usually occur then. It sings only cccasionally at this time, 
but a month later is heard much more frequently, while in Feb- 
ruary the air is filled with its notes rising from every field and 
pasture. The morning hours are its favorite time for singing, gen- 
erally before nine o'clock, although it may be heard at all hours 
of the day. It has several distinct songs, one of the most 
common of which may be represented by the syllables, “ Twee— 
twedle—tee—te-twe.”’ 
Early in January the wren tit (Chamea fasciata) begins to sing. 
Its note is. high-pitched but melodious, and, as I have elsewhere 
mentioned, is well represented by the syllables, “ Tit’, tit,’ tit,’ t-r-r- 
r-r-e.’” It is sometimes heard in the early part of the winter, espe- 
cially in November. At this time the full song is quite rare, the trill 
being omitted. This song may be represented as follows, “ Tit/— 
tit-tit-tit.”” In Ross Valley, Marin county, I have heard the full 
song in December. During the spring months the song of this 
bird is one of the characteristic notes in the cafions. It sings 
throughout the heat of summer and even late in the fall. In spite 
