458 Birds of Colorado 



and tail dusky, the coverts tipped with white, forming a double wing- 

 bar ; the outer three pairs of tail-feathers largely white ; under-parts 

 white, sharply defined from the black throat ; sides streaked with black ; 

 iris brown, biU black, legs dusky. Length 4-30 ; wing 2-45 ; tail 1-90 ; 

 culmen -4 ; tarsus -7. 



The female resembles the male, but usually has less black on the 

 head, and a wash of brown on the back ; the throat and breast are 

 mottled black and white. Young birds and adults in the fall have 

 less black on the head and cheeks, and have the tliroat mottled black 

 and white. 



Distribution. — A western Warbler, breeding from British Columbia 

 to Lower California, and eastwards to Colorado and New IVIexico, 

 migrating south in winter as far as Oaxaca and Vera Cruz in Mexico. 



In Colorado the Black-throated Grey Warbler is a rare bird ; arriving 

 from the south in May, and ranging up to 9,500 feet at Silverton in 

 San Juan co. It has been reported from Idaho Springs, May 23rd, 

 by Trippe, and from Loveland on May 9th by W. G. Smith, while 

 Aiken records it from El Paso and Fremont cos., where he tells me 

 that he believes that it breeds among the pinon hills north and east 

 of Canon City, but neither he nor any other observer has taken tlie 

 nest in the State. Cary reports that he saw or took this bird at Douglas 

 Springs in September, in Sinbad Valley in July, at Coventry, and at 

 Mesa Verde, 7,000 feet, all localities in the west of the State. 



Habits. — ^Aiken gives the following account : "Rather 

 a rare migrant in Colorado ; a few probably remaining 

 to breed. I have never seen it anywhere but on the 

 mesas and foothills that are covered with low, scraggy 

 pinon pines. The male as he searches for insects on 

 leaf or limb repeats at intervals a singular but withal 

 a very pretty song, with something of a metallic ring 

 in it. Shy and retiring in its habits, and frequenting 

 pinon groves so dense that one can scarcely see a dozen 

 yards ahead, it is easily overlooked and requires con- 

 siderable perseverance to secure." In Arizona it is 

 reported to nest in dense scrub-oak as well as high up in 

 pine trees. The nest resembles that of the Yellow 

 Warbler, and usually contains four eggs — ^white, delicately 

 marked with specks of red-brown and purplish, and 

 measuring about 69 x "50. 



