HOUSE FINCH (Carpodacus mexicanus 

 frontalis) 



Length, about 6 inches. Grayish brown 

 abovermany fcatiicrs tinged with red. _ Below 

 dull white, crown, rump, and throat crimson. 



Range: Resident in Oregon, Idaho, and 

 southeastern Wyoming south to Lower Cali- 

 fornia and Mexico. 



The pretty little house finch of the far west 

 is among the most domestic of American birds, 

 and exhibits a predilection for the neighbor- 

 hood of houses almost as strong as that of the 

 Knglish sparrow. It carols its sprightly lay 

 from the tops of buildings in villages and even 

 cities, and from the slirubliery of lawn and 

 park. So confiding has the bird become that it 

 places its nest in any crack or cranny of house 

 or outbuilding that is large enough for its 

 housekeeping operations. When such conve- 

 nient and safe retreats are not to be had it 

 builds a bulky nest in a tree or bush. 



It is fond of fruit, including pears, cherries, 

 and small fruit, which its strong conical bill 

 enables it to break open with ease. Locally, 

 therefore, it is a good deal of a pest and does 

 much damage to fruit crops, especially where 

 it is numerous. Much, however, can be said 

 in mitigation of its offenses. The seeds of 

 plants, a large proportion of those of noxious 

 weeds, constitute seven-eighths of its food for 

 the year. Plant lice, which are notoriously 

 harmful to many trees and plants, also are a 

 favorite diet. So, too, are caterpillars and 

 beetles: therefore, the balance is decidedly in 

 the bird's favor. 



This attractive songster was carried to the 

 Hawaiian Islands years ago and now is nu- 

 merous in Honolulu and also in the forest on 

 the island of Hawaii, where amid brighter and 

 more tropical neighbors it seems curiously out 

 of place, though it sings as often and as joy- 

 ously as it ever did in its old haunts across the 

 Pacific. 



ARKANSAS GOLDFINCH (Astragalinus 



psaltria and sub>pecies) 



Length, about 4]^ inches. Upper parts olive 

 green, more or less mixed with black in the 

 subspecies ; under parts yellow. 



Range : Breeds from southern Oregon, Utah, 

 and northern Colorado to southern Lower 

 California and into Mexico. 



In the far west this goldfinch takes the place 

 of the eastern goldfinch which in a general 

 way it much resembles in liabits. Like that 

 bird it is rarely seen, save in the breeding sea- 

 son, except in small parties, the members of 

 which seem to be on terms of the utmost fa- 

 miliarity and accord. The flight of this spe- 

 cies, as of its kindred, is exceedingly charac- 

 teristic. It disdains to cleave the air in straight 

 lines, but progresses in a series of graceful, 

 sinuous curves, which, however, take the little 

 aeronaut rapidly from point to point. This 

 flight is a sure mark of identification. The 

 l>ird has a sweet warbling song and even its 

 call notes are plaintive and pleasing. It 

 abounds in orchards and gardens and is often 

 to be seen by the roadside gleaning its food 

 from the tall stems of thistle or sunflowers. 



PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus) 



Length, about 6 to 6^ inches, l^nlike an'y 

 other eastern finch, the crimson head of the 

 male sufficiently distinguishes it. 



Range : Breeds in southern Canada and 

 southward to North Dakota, ^linnesota, Illi- 

 nois. Pennsylvania mountains, and northern 

 Xew Jersey: winters from somewhat north of 

 the southern boundary of its breeding range 

 to the Gulf States. 



Considering that it is common and widely 

 distributed, the purple finch is not so well 

 known as it should be. For one thing it has a 

 marked liking for the tops of trees, particu- 

 larly elms, and when in a tree-top and more or 

 less screened by foliage it requires the aid of 

 a good glass to make its identity sure. Its 

 warbling song is sweet and melodious, but is 

 all too brief for perfect enjoyment, though in 

 spring the bird is prodigal enough of its carols, 

 and not infrequently a dozen males may be 

 heard singing at once in the same or in con- 

 tiguous trees. It frequently nests around 

 houses and for a site is very partial to the 

 Virginia juniper. 



The purple finch lives almost entirely on the 

 seeds of various plants, including those of 

 false buckwheat and ragweed, with some wild 

 berries. It is accused, not without reason, of 

 being a confirmed budder of fruit and other 

 trees, but the damage it inflicts on eastern or- 

 chards appears to be very slight, if indeed the 

 modest budding it does is an injury at all. 



AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Astragalinus 

 tristis and subspecies) 



Length, about 5 inches. Easily distinguished 

 by its rich yellow plumage and black crown 

 and tail. 



Range : Breeds from southern Canada south 

 to southern California, southern Colorado, 

 Arkansas, and northern Georgia. 



The thistle bird is one of our best-kn(nvn 

 finches, being not only common but very so- 

 ciable. It usually goes in small flocks, or fam- 

 ily parties, and sometimes the tall thistles on 

 which it likes to feed bend with the united 

 Aveight of several of the gay plumaged little 

 goldfinches. It is a law unto itself as regards 

 its nesting period, and begins to think seriously 

 about housekeeping when other birds are feed- 

 ing full-grown youngsters or are debating the 

 j)ropriety of a second brood. The goldfinch 

 has a pretty and plaintive call note, and its full 

 song is well worth listening to. It is much 

 like that of the canary, so much alike, in fact, 

 that the bird is often called the wild canary. 



Throughout the year the goldfinch is a seed 

 eater, especially of weed seeds, and it eats also 

 many insects, including canker worms, plant 

 lice, and beetles. Our goldfinch sometimes an- 

 noys the farmer by attacking the lettuce seeds 

 which have been left to mature for next sea- 

 son's planting, but the damage in this way is 

 slight, and Prof. Beal has been told that even 

 on the large seed farms of California it is 

 never serious enough to call for prcHective 

 measures. 



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