374 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Upper and Lower Sonoran zones from eastern 

 Texas to southern California; north to northern Colorado and central 

 valleys of California to about 40° ; mig-rates to southern Mexico and south 

 to Costa Rica. 



Nest. — A compact, cup-shaped structure, composed largely of dried 

 grasses and plant fibers, placed in bushes and tall weeds. JEggs : o or 4, 

 plain pale greenish blue or bluish white. 



Food. — Insects, seeds, buds, and berries. 



The blue grosbeak is less arboreal than its relatives, being found 

 mainly in brush, often along streams in foothill canyons. Its song, 

 Mr. Henshaw says, while suggesting the songs of other grosbeaks and 

 possessing much sweetness, "lacks the full rich mellowness of tone 

 and variety of modulation " of its relatives. 



GENUS CYANOSPIZA. 



^ ^ General Characters. — Bill small, under mandible conspicu- 



O ously deeper than upper ; wing pointed ; tarsus about equal to 

 i middle toe witli claw ; side claw s not reaching to base of mid- 

 dle claw. 

 Fig. 465. 



KEY TO ADULT MALES. 



1. Under parts partly or wholly red. 



2. Back yellowish green ciris, p. 376. 



2'. Back purplish red versicolor, p. 375. 



1'. Under parts not red. 



2. Upper parts light blue amoena, p. 375. 



2'. Upper parts dark purplish or greenish blue . . . cyanea, p. 374. 



598. Cyanospiza cyanea (Li««.). Indigo Buntikg. 



Adult male. — Head, throat, and sometimes median under parts purplish 

 blue ; rest of body cerulean blue changing to bluish green in some lights ; 

 lores, wings, and tail black or dusky, tinged with blue. Adult female : 

 upper parts olive brown ; wings and tail faintly tinged with blue ; under 

 parts dull whitish washed with huffy, faintly streaked on chest. Imma- 

 ture males : variously intermediate in coloration between fully adult males 

 and females. Young : similar to adult female, but browner, obsoletely 

 streaked. Male: length (skins) 4..59-5.21, wing 2.-58-2.81. tail 1.91-2.13, 

 bill .40-.44. Female : length (skins) 4.46-5.23, wing 2.47-2.62. tail 1.86- 

 1.92, bill .39-.43. 



Distribution. — Breeds chiefly in Upper Sonoran and Transition zones of 

 the northeastern United States, but extends west to Colorado, and from 

 southern Canada to the Gulf ; migrates to Central America. 



Nest. — In low bushes, made of leaves, plant fibers, and grasses, lined 

 with grass stems and horsehair. Eggs : usually 4, white, Avith faint bluish 

 tinge. 



Food. — Largely insects and seeds. 



The indigo bunting, the eastern representative of the genus, has 

 been found in Colorado and western Texas, but comes west regu- 

 larly only as far as eastern Kansas. In habits it is the counterpart 

 of the lazuli buntino;. 



