FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 333 



The Belding marsh sparrow is an abundant resident of the salt 

 water marshes along the coast of southern California, nesting in the 

 marsh grass just above the reach of the tide. 



544. Ammodramus rostratus Cass. Large-killed Sparrow. 

 Upper parts light grai/ish broicn, indistinctly streaked; under parts exten- 

 sively streaked with sandy brown ; bill 

 long and swollen and regularly curved 

 from base. Male: length (skins) .5.10- 

 5.70, wing- 2.7l>-iM)2, tail 1.95-2.17, 

 bill .48-.r)4. Female: length (skins) 

 5.20-5.70, wing- 2.52-2.83, tail 1.83- Fig. 421. 



2.14, bill .42-.51. 



Hemarks. — The large bill and nearly iiniforni light brown coloration of 

 upper parts distinguish this sparrow from the i-est of the group. 



Distribution. — Breeds in salt marshes on the coast of southern and 

 Lower Cahf ornia ; migrates to Cape St. Lucas and northwestern Mexico. 



Mr. Stephens reports that the large-billed sparrow is a common 

 winter resident of the seacoast of southern California, where it is 

 seldom found more than half a mile from the Avater's edge, but that 

 it prefers streets and the neighborhood of buildings to marshes. In 

 San Pedro Harbor, Mr. Grinnell tells us. it "frequents the wharves 

 and breakwaters, and even hops fearlessly about the decks of vessels. 

 feeding on crumbs and flies. " 



Subgenus Centronjnc. 



Hind toe decidedly longer than iimer toe ; wing exceeding tail by little 

 more than length of tarsus ; tail feathers narrow, sharp pointed. 



545. Ammodramus bairdii (.Im^.). Baird Sp.^rrow. 



Adults. — Head yellowish brown or buffy, crown streaked with black 

 laterally ; back liglit brown, spotted with black, feathers with liuht edgings; 

 under parts wliite, throat bordered by 

 black stripes ; chest, sides, and flanks 

 streaked with black ; tail deeply emargi- 

 nate. the lateral feathers longest, the 

 feathers all narrow and pointed at tip. 



Young : similar, but feathers of crown yIp. 422. 



and back distinctly l)ordered with bnffy 



and streaks on chest less sharjily defined. In n'inter the buffy color more 

 pronounced than in summer, strongly tinging chest and sides. Male: 

 length (skin.s) 4.S0-5.4(K wing 2.SO-2."S('), tail 2.05-2.10, bill .41-.43. Fe- 

 male: length (.skins) 4.('..")-4.05. wing 2.(10-2.70, t.-iil l.«)0-2.10, bill .40-.42. 



lieniarfcs. — The featliers of the nu>mbei-s of the subgenus J^asserculus 

 are streaked, the dark center of tlie feather being a narrow sh.ift streak ; 

 but in .1. bairdii :ind others of the sharp-tailed group the d.ukest p;ut oi 

 the featln-r instead of being .i line is :i wide stiipe. an ov.il. or a termin.il 

 eye spot, n.'UTowly and ipiite uniforndy bordered with lighter, giving an 

 effect of spotting rather than streaking. 



Distribution. — Hr(*eds from the Siiskatcliewan j)lains to Nebraska and 

 migrates tliroiigh Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and .Vri/.ona, to northwe.st- 

 em Mexico ; casually westward to Washington. 



