382 Birds of Colorado 



This genus, as restricted by Ridgway, contains two rather distinct 

 species with several additional geographical races ; it ranges over the 

 arid plains of south-west United States and northern Mexico. 



A. A white superciUary stripe ; throat-patch black in adults. 



A. b. deserticola, p. 382. 



B. Only the supraloral spot white ; chin and throat chiefly white. 



A. nevadensis, p. 383. 



Desert-Sparrow. Amphispiza hilineata deserticola. 



A.O.U. Checklist no 573a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 182 ; 

 Cooke 97, pp. 106, 215 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; 09, p. 16 ; Oilman 07, p. 157. 



Description. — Male — Above plain greyish-brown ; a conspicuous 

 white superciliary and malar stripe, the former edged with black above ; 

 lores, malar region, throat and chest black ; ear-coverts and sides of 

 the chest ashy, shading into white on the rest of the lower surface ; 

 outer pair of tail-feathers with the outer web and a terminal spot 

 about -25 inch long white ; iris black, bill blackish with a paler spot on 

 the lower mandible. Length 5-25 ; wing 2-75 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen -42 

 tarsus -70. 



The sexes are alike, but the female is slightly smaller. A young 

 bird is like the adult, but has no black on the head, the throat and 

 chest being white, finely streaked with dusky. 



Distribution. — The desert country of south-west United States and 

 northern Mexico, from western Texas to southern California, and from 

 northern Nevada and Utah to Chiliuahua. 



The Desert-Sparrow is not uncommon in the southern and south- 

 western portions of Colorado where desert conditions prevail, and 

 where the sage-brush is predominant. It is probably a summer resident, 

 wintering further south. The first definite record is that of Aiken, who 

 obtained an example in Fremont co., July 27th, 1872. It h6i3 sub- 

 sequently been recorded from near Canon City by P. L. Jones, who 

 found a single pair nesting in 1888 (Cooke), from Gaume's Ranche 

 in the north-western corner of Baca co., where Warren found it common 

 and breeding from 18th to 25th May ; from La Plata River near the New 

 Mexican boundary, and from the McEhno district of Montezuma co. 

 (Oilman), and Bedrock, Montrose co., after April 17th (Warren, 09). 



Habits. — This bird is eminently characteristic of the 

 dry mesas and sage-brush {Artemesia) and chaparal- 

 covered wastes of New Mexico and Arizona, though it 

 is to be found in the rocky hills as well. It has 

 a cheerful song, with clear tinkling notes. The nest 

 is placed low dovm. in a bush, generally an Artemesia, 



