FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



339 



mountains. Along the willow bordered streams that run through 

 the mountain meadows in the Sierra its thin, sharp chip of parental 

 anxiety is often heard, and its song dominates the bird chorus. The 

 song is composed of two long whistled notes, the first sliding up to 

 the second with grace notes, the second followed by a lower note 

 repeated rapidly three times. The two long whistled notes are rich 

 and plaintive in tone, suggesting the whistle of the pine woods 

 sparrow, and as they ring through the cool, pure air day after day 

 seem to give expression to the deep pervadiug peace and serenity of 

 the mountains. 



Gambel Sparrow : Intermediate 



liary stripe reach- 



554a. Z. 1. gambelii (Nutt.) 



iSPAKUOW. 



Similar to leucophrys. but lores not black 

 ing- to bill. Male : length (skins) 

 5.S5-6.4S, wing ::J.00-3.28, tail 2.58- 

 2.92, bill .39-.44. Female: length 

 (skins) 5.7o-6.4o, wing 2.90-3.25, tail 

 2.64-2.93. bill .39-.43. 



Distribution. — Breeds frona Alaska 

 to Montana and eastern Oregon ; mi- 

 grates south through the western 

 United States to Lower California 

 and Central Mexico ; straggling east 

 to Iowa. 



Eggs. — Similar to those of the 

 white-crowned, but cinnamon colored 

 or rusty style prevailing. 



Food. — Cutworms, caterpillars, and 

 other insects as well as weed seed. 



554b. Z. 1. nuttalli Bidgw. Nuttall Sparrow. 



Adults. — Like leucophri/s, but lores not black and superciliary stripe 

 extending to bill ; median crown stripe usually narrower than lateral 

 stripes, edge of wing yellow, and adults with upper parts hr own instead of 

 gray, streakings dark brown or ])lackisli. and under parts brownish gray. 

 Young : ground color of ujiper jjarts ligbt huffy olive ; under parts pale 

 yellowish. Male: lenj^th (skins) .").8()-().()7, wing" 2.83-2.9('). tail 2.<'.8-2.96, 

 bill .41-.4T. Female: length (skins) 5.37-G.40. wing- 2.(;G-2.79. tail 2.50- 

 2.73, bill .3'.»-.47. 



Remarks. — Of tbe tbree .sparrows, thf wliite-crown. the Nuttall, and tbe 

 Gambel. tbe wliite-crown may ])e distinguislied by its blaek or dark brown 

 lon-s ; tilt' adidt Xiitt:dl sparrow by brownisb instead of grayish coloration; 

 and usually a median crown stripe that is narrower than the lateral 

 stripes ; and the adidt (tambel by the combination of white lores, gray 

 color.ition. and broad median crown strii)e. 



Distribution. — Breeds from British Cohnubia to Monterey, California; 

 migrates to Lower California. 



Food. Insects, grain, and weed seed. 



657. Zonotrichia coronata(Pa//.). Goldkn-crowned Sparrow. 

 Adults. — Crown inclosed by blflc/c stripes, with median stripe yellow in 



