224 LAND BIRDS 
dawn the whole thicket rings with his melody, rousing 
the more drowsy willow-dwellers to rejoice with him. 
“The ballad singer of the mountains,” some one has 
called him. 
His is a vertical as well as longitudinal migration, for 
when the September snow-flurries threaten, the various 
broods form a straggling flock that retreat slowly before 
the cold, until in October they have reached the valleys 
of Southern California, and pass on farther south. 
554a. GAMBEL SPARROW, OR INTERMEDIATE 
SPARROW, — Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelit. 
Famity: The Finches, Sparrows, ete. 
Length: 5.75-6.75. 
Adults: Similar to the white-crowned sparrow, but edge of wing pale 
yellow instead of white, and lores white or buffy instead of black, 
and white superciliary stripe extending to bill. 
Geographical Distribution: Coast ranges of California and north to 
British Columbia, straggling east as far as Iowa, and south to 
Mexico. 
Breeding Range: From Alaska and Montana to Eastern Oregon. 
Breeding Season: June 15 to July 15. 
Nest: Similar to that of the white-crowned sparrow, but placed in 
bushes, trees, and thick clumps of weeds. 
Eggs: Similar to those of the white-crowned sparrow, but tinged with 
rusty brown. 
In form, coloring, and habits the Gambel Sparrow, 
or Intermediate Sparrow, closely resembles the white- 
crowned, of which it is a subspecies. It breeds in the 
far north, returning to California in October, and is an 
abundant winter visitant throughout the State. For 
nesting habits, see ‘ White-crowned Sparrow.” 
