ARIZONA PYRRHULOXIA 29 



Cardinals were found nesting in hedgerows between open fields, but these were 

 always fairly dense and contained large trees. In these same areas the Pyrrhulox- 

 ias were often found nesting in trees with little or no vegetation around them. 



Both Cardinals and Pyrrliuloxias appear to prefer an open field within the limits 

 of their territory. * * * The fact that one territory did not include such an area 

 shows that this is not absolutely necessary. * * * Often birds of both species 

 were seen feeding together in groups outside of their territories. No conflicts were 

 noticed on these occasions, indicating that these feeding areas were not part of 

 established territories. 



Gould found that the shape of the territories was roughly circular. 

 Seven pyrrhuloxia territories averaged 2.5 acres each; they ranged 

 from a minimum of 1.3 acres to a maximum of 3.5 acres. His trapping 

 results showed that the pyrrhuloxias outnumbered the cardinals in 

 the area by about 2 to 1. 



Gould observed that: "The size and shape of the territories re- 

 mained fairly stable dming the summer. However, a few minor 

 fluctuations were noted. These were primarily the result of the 

 shifting of the center of activity when a new nest was buUt. If the 

 new nest was built on the opposite end of the territory from the old 

 one, then the region of the old nest was not defended as often nor as 

 vigorously as before. This allowed a neighboring pair to gain control 

 of the vacated area." He observed that nest sites were "placed 

 without regard to the size or shape of the territor3\ Some were in 

 the middle and others were at the edge * * *." 



Nesting. — Courtship feeding, which we might call marital feeding 

 because it also occm's dm'ing incubation, begins in February. On 

 February 28 a female came to our feeding table in the back lot. A few 

 moments later a male landed beside her. At once she flew into a 

 nearby creosote bush and perched, waiting. The male fed for several 

 minutes, then suddenly flew up to the female and fed her. He then 

 returned to the table and resumed his meal. She waited, while he 

 finished and left. Not until then did she venture back to the food. 



Nest building apparently does not start until April. My earliest 

 record is April 7, when a pair started a nest in a mistletoe clump in a 

 catclaw bush near RiUito Creek. Unfortunately, they discontinued 

 work the same day, perhaps undecided or alarmed at my discovery. 

 By April 20 they had built another nest in sunilar surroundings a short 

 distance away, which contained three eggs when we found it (Ander- 

 son and Anderson, 1946). Nesting continues at least until July, but 

 whether more than one brood is attempted has not been determined. 

 Late nests may indicate earlier failures. Brandt (1951) says the 

 height of the season is the first week in June. He reports nests with 

 eggs in late May. Sutton and Phillips (1942) found eggs just hatch- 

 ing on June 7 on the Papago Indian Reservation. 



