PERCHING BIRDS 



521. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra minor. 



Range. — Northern North America, breeding 

 in the Alleghanies and from northern New 

 England northward; winters south to the mid- 

 dle portions of the United States and casually 

 farther. 



The birds are very cur- 



- .^ ious both in appearance and 



f , actions, being very "flighty" 



V, ,- and restless, and apt to re- 



^(L^ , main to breed on any of the 



^^jj^t, " mountains. They ])uild dur 



ing March or April, making 



Greenish wiiiu- ^i^gjj. ^^^^^ qj twigs, rootlets, 



moss, feathers, etc., and placing them in forks 

 or on branches of trees (usually conifers) at 

 any height from the ground. The eggs are 

 greenish white, spotted witli brown and with 

 lavender shell markings; size .75 x .55. 



521a. ^Iexican Chossbill. 

 tra stricklandi. 



Loaia curvirus- 



(.'rossl)ill 



Range. — Mountain ranges from central Mexico north to Wyoming. 

 A larger variety of the preceding. The eggs will not differ except perhaps 

 a trifle in size. 



522. White-winged Crossbill. Loaia leucopiera. 



Range. — Northern North America, breeding in the Alle- 

 ghanies and from northern Maine northward; winters to -- . 

 middle portions of the United States. 



This species is rosy red with two white wing bars. Like 

 the last, they are of a roving disposition and are apt to 

 be found in any unexpected locality. Their nesting habits 

 are the same as tho^o of the American Crossbill, but the 



eggs average larger and the <^^i'eenish white 

 markings are more blotchy; size .80 x .55. 

 .97X.67. 



523. Aleutian Rosy Finch. Leucosticte 

 griseonucha. 

 Range. — Aleutian and Pribilof Islands; south 

 to Kadiak. 



This is the largest of the genus, and can 

 ba distinguished from the otliers by its very 

 dark chestnut coloration and the gray hindneck 

 and cheeks. Like the other 

 Leucostictes, they are 

 found in flocks and fre- 

 quent rocky or mountain 

 ous country, where they 

 are nearly always found 

 on the ground. They build 

 in crevices among the -<..2..^- 



rocks or under ledges or 

 embankments, making the 



nest of weeds and grasses. Their four or five 

 pure white eggs are laid during June. Size 

 .97 X .67. Data. — St. George Islands of the 

 327 



White 



While- winged Crosbill 



