Jtinco WESTERN BIRDS 



habits being scarcely exceeded by those of any other 

 bird. "In general they appear to be guided by some 

 thought of seclusion or protection in their choice of nest- 

 ing sites. Steep hillsides or little banks are, therefore, 

 favorite places, for here the bird may excavate a cool 

 grotto in the earth, and allow the drapery of the hillside, 

 mosses and running vines, to festoon and guard the ap- 

 proaches." "Several nests have been found in old tin 

 cans flung down upon the prairie and only half obscured 

 by growing grasses. Again the birds trust to the density 

 of vegetation, and shelter in the grass of unmowed 

 orchards, weed-lots, and meadows." 



GENUS JUNCO: THURBER'S JUNCO. 



Thurber's Junco: J unco hyemalis thurberi. 

 FAMILY— FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



While the Shufeldt Junco may stray down into Cali- 

 fornia in the winter-time, the common bird of this State 

 is the Thurber's Junco, which breeds in the mountains 

 from southern Oregon south through the Sierra Nevada 

 and coast ranges of California, wintering in the valleys 

 and straying into Arizona. 



The bird resembles the Oregon Junco, but has longer 

 wings and tail; head, throat, and breast are deep black, 

 contrasting with the light brown back; the sides are 

 buffy, rather than pink. The young are streaked on the 

 brown back, which is lighter than adults. The white 

 outer tail feathers are distinctive markings as the 

 birds fly. 



In southern California these Juncos are not particu- 

 larly abundant, even in the winter-time, although small 

 flocks of them may be seen feeding on the ground in open 

 canyons or brush-covered foothills; sometimes also in 

 the gardens when they are near their chosen haunts. 



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