1080 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETEN 237 i'art 2 



me to use his field notes, refers to it as the "red" juiico. And indeed 

 the backs of oreganus are markedly ruddier than those of the neigh- 

 boring shufeldti or montanus, and in some individuals are a bright, 

 rich red-brown. Heads are black, darker on the average than in 

 the adjacent races. The impression is that of an intensely colored 

 junco, new looking, as though freshly washed from constant exposure 

 to the incessant rains. 



S. G. Jewett (1942), who visited different islands and the main- 

 land of southeastern Alaska in the smiimer of 1941, comments on 

 the irregular distribution of the race : 



Common locally, but entirely or almost lacking in other apparently suitable 

 areas. At Hobart Bay on June 23, during a half-day's hunt, only two adults 

 were seen; and on June 25 several hours spent ashore revealed only one adult 

 male, seen and heard singing. On June 28 at Olive Cove, Etolin Island, and 

 June 28 and 29 at Wrangell the species was very common, many adults and 

 striped young being seen. Almost an entire day spent ashore at Anan Creek 

 revealed just one young junco. At Kake, Kupreanof Island, both young and 

 adults were common in the Indians' garden patches along the beach on July 4. 



A. H. Miller (1941b) says: 



Juncos in much of this area are sparsely distributed, probably because of the 

 prevailing density of the forest and undergrowth. They occur chiefly along the 

 borders of muskegs, meadows, streams, and beaches and in the occasional tracts 

 of parklike timber, especially on the outer islands. Cedar {Thuja), Sitka Spruce 

 {Picea sitchensis), and western Hemlock {Tsuga heterophylla) dominate the forest. 

 There is an abundance of epiphytic growth. No other junco experiences more 

 overcast weather and precipitation during the breeding season. The sun may 

 be obscured from view for many days in succession. Nearly all the occupied 

 region is below 2000 feet in elevation. Some of the higher mountains of the 

 islands may afford suitable junco habitat at timber line. 



From Comox, Vancouver Island, Theed Pearse writes me: "Here 

 the Oregon junco is practically a winter bird and nests at the higher 

 levels." 



Spring. — The earliest arrival at Windfall Harbor, Admiralty Island, 

 in 1907 according to Grinnell (1909a), was April 19. A. M. Bailey 

 (1927) says the birds are seen "the year round" in southeastern Alaska, 

 but intimates they are less plentiful in winter and become more 

 common with the arrival of spring: "A few were noted during January 

 near Juneau * * * . My notes read 'WrangeU February 27, Kupre- 

 anof March 4, Craig the 12th, — few noted.' A few were seen in 

 Hooniah Sound throughout our stay May 7-24, but not daily. By 

 May 31, however, the Juncos were common about Juneau and a 

 female was seen building her nest * * * ." 



Theed Pearse (MS.) records juncos of this race singing at Courtenay 

 and Comox, Vancouver Island, Feb. 9, 1928, Feb. 11, 1922, Feb. 24, 

 1917, and notes on Mar. 30, 1919, that "white outer tail feathers 

 play a prominent part in display." 



