HEPBURN'S ROSY FINCH 357 



leaves in a storm. These winter flocks are restless, except when ac- 

 tually feeding. They whirl up in spiral flights, then alight for a few 

 seconds, only to start off again with little apparent reason. Usually 

 they alight on the ground, sometimes on buildings, once in a great 

 while m trees or bushes, and we have seen the telephone and fence wires 

 decorated with them for a considerable space." 



Hepburn's rosy finch has been known to stray far from its western 

 breeding range. A male was collected near Minneapolis, Minn., 

 Jan, 3, 1889; another specimen was trapped and banded at Gorham, 

 Maine, Dec. 15, 1936 (Gross, 1937). 



The Lefhngwells (1931) say: 



With the exception of active competition for roosting places, there is little quar- 

 reling among the birds early in the winter. After the latter part of January, how- 

 ever, the birds become more quarrelsome. This continues with increasing vigor 

 until shortly before the departure of the flock, when the birds seem to be paired. 

 On March 3, 1928, we observed that at the spring there was constant fighting which 

 consisted largely of the aggressor opening his bill as though to intimidate, and mak- 

 ing a hissing noise. He then rushed toward the opponent, caught at its bill and the 

 two fell, fluttering and whirling, to the ground in a circular motion. 



They add that the flock breaks up somewhat toward the end of the 

 winter, shortly before the migration begins. A bird they banded in 

 February 1928 returned and was retaken in November 1929. 



Distribution 



Range. — Pacific slope of Alaska to California and New Mexico. 



Breeding range. — Breeds from south central Alaska (Kenai Penin- 

 sula, McKinley Park), southwestern Yukon (Tepee Lake), and north- 

 western British Columbia (near Doch-da-on Creek) south through 

 high mountains of southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia 

 to Cascade Mountains of Washington, Oregon (Crater Lake), and 

 central northern California (Mount Shasta). 



Winter records. — Winters from southern Alaska (Kodiak Island, 

 Kenai Peninsula, Juneau), central British Columbia (Quesnel), and 

 central Montana (Fort Shaw, Fort Keogh) south to northern Cali- 

 fornia (Chats), western Nevada (Washoe and Storey counties), 

 northern Utah (Bacchus), and central northern New Mexico (Vermejo 

 Park). 



Casual records. — Accidental in Minnesota (Minneapolis) and 

 Maine (Gorham). 



