Grosbeak WESTERN BIRDS 



a buffy, rather than white, breast, and the under wing 

 coverts yellow. The upper parts are much striped in 

 browns, grays, and buffy with the crown of head strik- 

 ingly striped in black and buff; light brown fine stripes 

 sometimes mark the sides of breast. 



The song of this western bird is exquisite. Florence 

 Merriam Bailey says of the song of the Rose-breasted: 

 "His song lacks the exquisite finish of the westerner, but 

 is loud and musical and sung with a joyous swing." Of 

 the Black-headed she writes: "At its best, given from a 

 poplar or live-oak top in the leisure of a sunny after- 

 noon, it is one of the most varied, exquisitely finished, 

 and musical of bird songs. It has the swinging rhythm 

 and clearness characteristic of Grosbeak songs, but is 

 smooth and rounded, and its highest notes are dwelt on 

 and trolled over with rare tenderness, repeated not as a 

 Thrasher's notes are repeated, but with the enjoyment 

 of an artist consciously perfecting his work." 



Not only .are these birds fond of nesting in thickets 

 near water, but they also come into our yards and nest 

 in our fruit trees. At this time, and from the moment 

 of the birds' arrival, a loud musical strain is heard which 

 seems to say, "Sweet Mar-i-a" as a closing phrase. These 

 birds are among our earliest singing in the morning, and 

 all day long they keep it up. When nesting duties are 

 over I have heard a low song that consists of trills, 

 whistles and warbles, all exquisitely done and reserved 

 only for those whose ears are atune to every bird call. 

 So bubbling over with joy is this charming westerner 

 that he even sings as he broods the eggs. Again and 

 again have I watched him take the nest at the departure 

 of his demure mate, settle himself over the eggs, and 

 break into a beautiful strain. In some cases it was 

 almost a continuous performance. In a half hour's 

 watching where the male was brooding, I recorded that 

 he sang a short song every half minute. When the female 



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