12 AMERICAN OENTTHOLOGY. 



PINE GROSBEAK, 



A. O- V. Xo. 515. (Phiicola enuoleator leuoiira.) 



RANGE. 



Northeastern parts ot North xYmerica; south in winter through New 

 England. Breeds from northern New England northwards, 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length 8.5 in. Adult male — Rosy red, brightest on the head, rump 

 and breast; belly grayish: back brownish black with the feathers edged 

 with rosy; wings and tail blackish, the former crossed by two wing-bars. 

 General plumage of the female is grayish with the head, rump and 

 sometimes the breast tinged with a more or lessbright greenish yellow. 

 Young males are similar in plumage to the female although the color 

 varies from the greenish yellow of the female to orange or reddish. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



Pine Grosbeaks breed from the northern parts of the United States 

 northwards placing their nests chiefly in coniferous trees. The nest is 

 made of twigs and rootlets and lined with fine rootlets and grasses. 

 Three or four eggs are laid during the latter part of May. The eggs 

 are pale greenish blue and are specked and blotched with brown and 

 lilac. 



SUB-SPECIES. 



The Pine Grosbeak has recently been sub-divided into the following: 



"515a. Rocky Mountain Pine Grosbeak (P. e. montana). Similar 

 to No. 515, but decidedly larger, and coloration slightly darker; the 

 adult male with the red of a darker, more carmine hue. Range. Rocky 

 Mountains from Montana and Idaho to New Mexico- (RidgwayV 



"515b. California Pine Grosbeak (P. e. californica). Similar to 

 No. 515, but male with red much brighter; feathers of back piain ashy 

 gray without darker centers; female with little if any greenish on rump. 

 Range- Higher parts of Central Sierra Nevada, north to Placercounty 

 and south to Fresno county, California. (Grinnell). 



"515c. Alaskan Pine Grosbeak (P. e. alascensis). Similar to 515, 

 but decidedly larger with smaller or shorter bill and paler coloration, 

 both sexes having the gray parts of the plumage distinctly lighter, 

 more ashy. Range. Northwestern North America except Pacific 

 coast, breeding in interior of Alaska; south in winter, to eastern Brit- 

 ish Columbia, Montana, etc. (Ridg.) 



"515d. Kadiak Pine Grosbeak (P. e. flammula). Similar to No. 

 515, but with much larger, relatively longer and more strongly hooked 

 bill; wings and tail grayish brown instead of duU blackish. Range. 



