242 THE WESTERN ROBIN. 



A SM.MvL prupurtinn. nut o\-er one per cent, oi the Robins whicli annu- 

 ally cross otn- borders lia\-e enough wliite in the "corners" of their tails to pro- 

 claim them true "Americans." The difference is striking and unmistakable, 

 and we feel sure that we ha\'e here, not a chance variation, but an alien ele- 

 ment, a slender stream of migration diverted from the accustomed channels 

 of t^'pical P. inigraturius, and straggling down, or up. on the wrong side of 

 the Rockies. When it is remembered that the American Robin winters in 

 Florida and the Gulf States, and th;il its spring migrations lake it as far west 

 as the Kowak River, in Alaska, that is. due northwest from Atlanta, it is less 

 surprising that the birds should occasionally bear west northwest instead, and 

 so make \Vashington en route. It is aluK^st certain that this is the case, for 

 the wintering birds west of the Rockies and in Mexico are in\ariabl\- of the 

 western type, propiuquiis. 



No. 99. 



WESTERN ROBIN. 



.\. O. V. No. 761a. Planesticus migratorius propinquiis fRidgw."). 



Description. — Similar to i'. iiiitjialdiiiis. hut white on inner webs of outer 

 rectrices much reduced or wanting ; gray of upperparts paler and more oliva- 

 ceous, more sharply contrasting with black of head : cinnamon-rufous of under- 

 parts averaging paler; wing, tail, and tar.sus slightly longer. Length of males 

 about 10.25 (260.3): wing 5.52 (140): tail 4.13 (105); bill .80 (20.3); tarsus 

 1.34 (34.1 ). Females slightly smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — "Robin" size; cinnamon-rufous below — everyone 

 knows the Robin — without white on "corners" of tail a.; distinguished from 

 preceding. 



Nesting. — Nest: a thick-walled but shapely bowl of mud ("rarely felted 

 vegetable filjcrs instead) set about with twigs, leaves, string and trash, and lined 

 with fine grass-stems ; placed anywhere in trees or variously, but usually at 

 moderate heights. Eggs: 3 or 4, rareh- 5; greenish blue, unmarked. Av. size 

 1. 13 X .79 (29.2 X 20.1). Season: April 15-July to; two broods. 



General Range. — Western North America from the Rocky ^Mountains to 

 the Pacific, north to limit of trees in coast forest district in Alaska; south thru 

 highlands of Mexico and. occasionally Guatemala; breeding nearly thruout its 

 range. 



Range in Washington. — Common summer resident and migrant thruout 

 the State, more common in settled portions ; rare in mountains save in vicinity 

 of settlements; irregularly resident in winter, sometimes abundantly on j'uget 

 Sound. 



Migrations. — Spy'tiui: West-side, last week in February; East-side, first or 

 second week in March, fall: October. 



