WESTERN BIRDS Sparrow 



From October until April one may run across them, 

 but with the coming of spring the birds go to the moun- 

 tains, being most abundant above 5,000 feet. In their 

 ground-nesting habits they differ not materially from 

 other Juncos. 



The only bird that I can conceive of any one confus- 

 ing with the Junco is the Spurred Towhee, which might 

 be found in the same locality as these smaller members 

 of the family, scratching away on the same hillside. 

 However, the Juncos are much smaller, have more white 

 on the tail, and the sides are not such a pronounced 

 brick-red as are those of the Towhee. Then, too, the 

 Juncos go about in large flocks while the Towhees are 

 in pairs, or alone. 



The careful observer can make no mistake, while the 

 casual one might. 



In the coast strip of San Mateo and northern Monterey 

 Counties, California, is found a bird which is called the 

 Point Pinos and differs from Thurber's in having the 

 sides of head and throat slaty. 



The Gray-headed Junco, which has ash where the 

 others are black, and a bright rufous back, is sometimes 

 a winter visitor in southern California, breeding in south- 

 ern Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and northern 

 New Mexico. 



Other members of this group are Ridgways, Towns- 

 ends, Arizona, and Red-backed. 



GENUS AMPHISPIZA: DESERT 

 SPARROW. 



Desert Sparrow: Amphispiza bilineata deserticola. 



FAMILY— FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



In this little Sparrow we have a bird which is similar 

 to the preceding, being slightly larger and having paler 



185 



