SLATE-COLORED JUNCO 



159 



much of the winter, the Snowbird occurs only as a migrant, 

 through April, and again in late September and October. 

 On the higher summits of Berk- 

 shire and Worcester counties, on 

 the Catskills, and in northern 

 New England and New York, 

 wherever there are patches of 

 spruce, the Snowbird is a com- 

 mon summer resident. In winter 

 flocks frequent the warm slopes 

 where weedy patches have been 

 laid bare, in severe weather often 

 coming about the house and barn, F^«- ^^- Slate-colored Juuco 



particularly if seed is scattered for them. In the spring migra- 

 tion they are found at the edges of cultivated fields, and 

 along the roadsides ; and in the autumn in more open wood- 

 land. They breed either on rocky mountain tops, where they 

 occur higher up than any 

 other bird, or in spruce for- 

 ests, particularly where there 

 are clearings or pastures. 



The Snowbird's song is a 

 pleasant little jingle, like the 

 clinking of bits of metal 

 struck rapidly together. (See 

 under Chipping Sparrow, p. 

 161.) The bird sings often 

 from a stone, or from the top 

 of an evergreen. It has also a smack of alarm, a peu peu 

 peu, uttered when two birds are quarreling, and a twittering 

 sound given when one bird starts to fly, apparentl}^ to keep 

 the flock together. 



The pure ivhite V made by the outer tail-feathers, when 

 the bird rises from the ground, or the dark cowled appearance 

 of the head, as it is seen from below, easily distinguish it. 



Fig. 41. Tail of Slate-colored 

 Junco 



