FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 349 



Distribution. — Not well defined ; has been taken in Nevada, Wyoming, 

 Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. 



569. Junco caniceps {WoodL). Gray-headed Junco. 



Adults. — Ash gray, except for white on middle of belly, bright rufous 

 back, black lores, and white outer tail feathers ; iris dark brown or claret 

 color. Young : streaked ; ground color of upper parts brown. Male : 

 length (skins) .5.62-6.19, wing 8.21-0.41, tail 2.7()-2.'H, bill .42-.47. Fe- 

 male: length (skins) 5..54-.5.94, wing 2.9.5-3.30, tail 2.48-2.S1, bill .41-.46. 



Remarks. — The gray sides distinguish this junco from all but the adult 

 male hyemalis, which- has no reddish brown back patch. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Rocky Mountain region, from the Black Hills 

 to the Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico and Texas ; west from Col- 

 orado to Nevada ; migrates to northwestern Mexico ; casually to southern 

 California. 



570. Junco phseonotus palliatus Ridgw. Arizona Junco. 

 Adults. — Top of head and rump ash gray ; back bright brown ; greater 



wing coverts and tertials with outer webs chiefly rusty or rufous ; under parts 

 whitish ; outer tail feathers largely white ; iris vellow. Young : streaked. 

 Male: length (skins) 5.91-6.53, wing 3.00-3.26, tail 2.72-3.01, bill .44- 

 48. Female: length (skins) 5.56-5.94, wing 2.91-3.00, tail 2.46-2.82, 

 bill .44-.48. 



Remarks. — The Arizona and the red-backed juncos have the under 

 parts nearly uniform, but the brown on the wings distinguishes palliatus 

 from dorsalis. These two, with caniceps and male hyemaiis. are all with- 

 out pink on the sides. 



Distribution. — Breeds in mountains of southern Arizona and probably 

 of northern Mexico. 



570a. J. p. dorsalis (Henry). Red-backed Junco. 



Adults. — Upper parts ashy gray, except for bright rufous back; under 

 parts ashy white; iris brown. Young: streaked; 

 back reddish brown. Male : length (skins) 

 5.81-6.45, wing 3.22-3.41, tail 2.87-3.03, bill _ 



.44-..50. Female: length (skins) 5.49-6.12, p^^ 437 



wing 3.00-3.21, tail 2.69-2.92, bill .4.5-.48. 



Remarks. — The absence of brown on the wings distinguishes this sub- 

 species from palliatus. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Canadian zones in mountains of 

 New Mexico and northern Arizona ; winters south to western Texas and 

 northern Mexico. 



Nest. — In clumps of oaks on hillsides, or, as described by Dr. Mearns, 

 on ground in pine woods, concealed l)y bunch of wire grass, composed of 

 loosely put together roots, stems of plants, grasses, and an occasional 

 feather. Fggs : 4, greenish white, marked with lilac and reddish brown 

 around one end. 



The coloration of most of the juncos is not particularly protective 

 except as the color pattern disi^uises the bird's form, but the red- 

 backed on tlie pine plateau of San Francisco Mountain. Arizona, 

 spends a larije part of its time about the fallen pine-tops, where the 

 red of its back and the red of the dead pine needles and old bark 

 make a protective combination that, added to the gray of the body, 



