Winter Bird Life in Los Angeles 



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about two years ago, in January or February, when one of them stayed about 

 for two or three weeks; so one may imagine my deUght on seeing this httle 

 visitor. 



On November 12, a Crested Jay, dweller of the mountains, was seen in the 

 valley not far from my home. California Jays we have in abundance, but these 

 beautiful, high-crested birds ordinarily prefer the high mountains. 



Wren-Tits, those distinctively western birds that usually live on the brush- 

 covered hillsides or wooded canons, are constant visitors this winter and their 

 peculiar clear whistles are often heard. Plain Titmice, those dainty crested 

 midgets; California Bush-Tits, a tiny western species; .\laska Hermit Thrushes, 

 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Audubon Warblers, Dusky Warblers, White-crowned 

 Sparrows, Spurred Towhees, such common birds as Black Phoebes, Linnets, 



BLACK PHttBP: 



Song Sparrows, Towhees, Anna's Hummingbirds, Blackbirds and Green- 

 backed Goldfinches are about in abundance. 



One surprise of November 25 was the appearance in my elderberry of a 

 male Phainopepla. These beautiful black-crested birds are summer visitors 

 that, for the most part, are gone by August, although occasionally a stray one 

 is reported in the winter time. On December 5 a gray female of this species 

 also \'isited the yard and drank from a bird-bath. My camera was in position 

 but the light was not strong enough for a good picture. On December 9 the 

 male was about again, and all through December he has been here. As I write 

 this (December 23) he is still with me and I am hoping to get a photograph of 

 him at my bath. These birds are also fond of pepper berries. 



Perhaps the greatest surprise of the season was on November 19 when, on 

 casually glancing out of the window, I saw a small dark bird whose big white 

 collar stood out against the dark background and made him conspicuous where 

 otherwise he blended into the tree. He was resting, head downward as im- 

 movable as though dead, and in this position he remained for fully five minutes 



