322 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



yellow not so intense ; the white edgings on wings worn off so there is 

 scarcely a trace of white left. Adult female in summer : much darker than 

 female of tristis, dull greenish yellow on throat instead of brig'ht yellowish 

 g'reen. Young: dark colored. Adult male in winter: similar to tristis, 

 but browner and with much broader wing markings; back dark olive 

 brown ; sides and flanks shaded with brown ; throat bright yellow, shad- 

 ing- to dull green on breast and to pure white on belly. Adult female in 

 winter : similar to male, but wings, tail, and throat duller ; bill dusky. 

 Male: length (skins) 4.08-4.82, wing 2.60-2.89, tail 1.70-1.82, bill .39-.42. 

 Female: length (skins) 4.28-4.70, wing 2.63-2.72, tail 1.70-1.79, bill 

 .39-.42. 



Distribution. — Pacific coast, from Washington south to Lower Cali- 

 fornia. 



530. Astragalinus psaltria (Say). Arkansas Goldfinch. 

 Adult male. — Under parts canary yellow ; crown, wings, and tail black ; 

 ear coverts and back plain olive ; wing quills 

 with a white patch at base ; tail feathers 

 with inner webs of all but middle pair white 

 from base to dark tips. Adult female : upper 

 Fig. 406. parts plain dull olive green ; under parts 



light greenish yellow ; head without black ; wings and tail as in male, but 

 black duller and white more restricted, sometimes obsolete on tail. Young : 

 similar to female, but tinged with buffy, and wing coverts tipped with 

 buff. Male: length (skins) 3.83-4.19, wing 2.45-2.55, tail 1.52-1.61, bill 

 .35-.39. Female : length (skins) 3.81-4.23, wing 2.39-2.49, tail 1.48-1.64, 

 bill .35-.39. 



Remarks. — The subspecies of psaltria are easily distinguished from it in 

 the field by the amount of black on the back. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Upper Sonoran zones in the 

 western United States from the Plains to the Pacific, and from Colorado 

 and southern Oregon south to San Pedro Martir Mountains, Lower Cali- 

 fornia ; in winter to Cape St. Lucas. 

 Nest and eggs like those of tristis. 

 Food. — Largely weed seed. 



In southern California, Mr. Grinnell says, the Arkansas goldfinch 

 is not only abundant about gardens and orchards, but goes up to 

 6000 feet in the mountains. In Colorado, Mr. Cook states, it breeds 

 from the Plains to over 9000 feet. It is a late migrant there, scarcely 

 reaching northern Colorado before the middle of June, being a late 

 breeder like the other goldfinches. 



530a. A. p. arizonae (Coues). Arizona Goldfinch. 



Adidt male. — Similar to psaltria, but ear coverts and back darker, 

 mixed olive and black. Adult feinale : s{mi[a,r to iemale psaltria. Male: 

 length (skins) 3.79-4.21, wing 2.52-2.61, tail 1.52-1.75, bill .35-.39. Fe- 

 male: length (skin) 3.82, wing 2.41, tail 1.50, bill .37. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Upper Sonoran zone of New Mexico and Ari- 

 zona, and from Utah and Colorado to northwestern Mexico ; casual in Cali- 

 fornia. 



530b. A. p. mexicanus {Swains.). Mexican Goldfinch. 



Adult male. — Under parts wholly vivid canary yellow ; top of head. 



