BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



Among the commonest of them are the snowbird (more prop- 

 erly called Oregon junco), the western golden and the ruby- 

 crowned kinglet, the western and the varied robins and the ever- 

 present wren-tit. The snowbird, or Oregon junco, is exclusively 

 a winter visitor, nesting in the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range 

 Mountains. He is a sociable little fellow of the sparrow 

 tribe, always found in flocks during the winter season, and gen- 

 erally in the bushes or low trees. In manners the junco is ex- 

 ceptionally bright and cheerful, never showing any signs of 

 discontent, however dreary the day. His coat is of uniform 

 slate color in general hue, varied with a shade of brown on 

 the back, and abruptly broken across the breast, leaving the 

 under parts pure white, except on the sides, which are of a 

 buffy pinkish cast. The snow-white tail-feathers, constantly 

 exhibited when flying, are also characteristic marks of the 

 species. 



If the junco is merry, the kinglets are the incarnation of 

 feathered light-heartedness. No larger than your thumb, these 

 little midgets are full of restless animation and nervous enthu- 

 siasm. From spray to spray, branch to branch, and tree to 

 tree they flit, with head up or down as suits the whim or con- 

 venience of the moment. The two species are of about the 

 same size and general color — plain dull gray below and olive- 

 green above, with large inquisitive brown eyes in their tiny 

 heads. They may readily be distinguished, however, by the 

 crown, which has given them their name. The male ruby- 

 crowned kinglet has a patch of flaming scarlet on the top of 

 his head, although his prim little mate is wholly without adorn- 

 ment. The male golden-crowned kinglet has a spot of bril- 

 liant orange on the head, surrounded with yellow and bor- 



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