342 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



cially along the coast of Bering Sea, where, on entering a thicket, 

 the protesting tsip of the gentle bird may be heard on all sides. 

 Comins: south in fall, ocJiracea reaches Colorado in October and 



o 



spends the winter, Prof. Cooke says, on the Plains and the lower 

 part of the mountains, being common up to 7000 feet and occa- 

 sionally seen as high as 9000 feet. 



560a. Spizella socialis arizonse Coues. WESTERN CHIPPING 

 SPARROW. 



Adults in summer. - - Bill black ; top of head rufous, sometimes with in- 

 dication of ashy median line and dark streak- 

 ing- ; forehead blackish, cut by median white 

 line ; superciliary stripe white or grayish, 

 bordered below by narrow black eye stripe ; 

 back brownish or pale buffy, streaked with 

 black : rump and upper tail coverts gray ; 

 sides of head dull gray ; under parts white or 

 ashy. Adults in winter : similar, but colors dul- 

 ler and darker, tinged with brown on lower 

 parts, black on forehead obscure or wanting 1 , 

 crown usually streaked with dusky, bill 

 brown. Young : top of head brownish, 

 Fig 431 streaked with blackish ; superciliary buffy, 



streaked ; breast streaked ; tarsus less than 



twice as long- as bill. Male : length (skins) 4.82-5.43, wing- 2.64-3.00, tail 

 2.11-2.57, bill .3(J-.41. Female: length (skins) 4.87-5.26, wing- 2.62-2.98, 

 tail 2.12-2.42, bill .35-.-40. 



Remarks. The paler coloration of the western chipping- sparrow dis- 

 tinguishes it from the eastern, while the absence of pectoral blotch and 

 striking- wing bars distinguishes it from the western tree sparrow, and 

 the black marks on the forehead and behind the eye still further separate 

 it from the Worthen sparrow. 



Distribution. --Breeds in Transition and Upper Sonoran zones from 

 Alaska, perhaps to northern Mexico, and from the Rocky Mountains and 

 western Texas to the Pacific coast ; migrates to Lower California and 

 southern border of Mexican tablelands. 



Nest. In trees or bushes, made of grass stems and lined with horse- 

 hair. Eggs : 3 to 5, light greenish blue, speckled chiefly around the 

 larger end with black and brown. 



Food. Mainly caterpillars and other injurious insects and weed seed. 



In southern California, Mr. Griunell says the western chippy is 

 common about gardens and orchards in the mesa regions, breeding 

 in the conifers on the mountains to 8500 feet. In Colorado and 

 Arizona it breeds up to nearly 10,000 feet, though most commonly 

 from 6000 to 7000 feet. 



At St. Mary's Lake, Montana, Mr. Howell heard one sing near his 

 camp several nights as late as nine o'clock. 



561. Spizella pallida (Swains.). CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. 



Adults in summer. Crown light brown with pale median stripe and 

 black-streaked sides ; superciliary buffy or whitish ; sides of head buffy 



