SLATE-COLOEED JUNCO 



159 



Fig. 40. Slate-colored Junco 



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, 

 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, apparently to keep 

 the flock together. 



The pure white 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 



