WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 253 
parents do. But this is only a small part of the hunt- 
ing, for the Green-tail uses his bill more and his heels 
less in procuring his food than do others of his kind. 
Insects and seeds of all sorts are his chief diet. 
596. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. — Zamelodia 
melanocephala. 
Famity: The Finches, Sparrows, etc. 
Length: 7.50-8.90. 
Adult Male: Upper parts mostly black ; rump and collar light chest- 
nut ; wings and tail black ; two white wing-bars ; under parts buffy 
cinnamon, changing to lemon-yellow on belly and under wing- 
coverts. 
Adult Female: Upper parts blackish brown, streaked with buffy ; collar 
and under parts buffy ; sides streaked ; belly pale yellowish ; under 
wing-coverts lemon-yellow. 
Young: Similar to adult female, but without yellow on belly ; and back 
mottled, not streaked. 
Geographical Distribution : Western United States, east to Great Plains, 
south to Mexico. 
California Breeding Range: Upper Sonoran and Transition zones through- 
out the State. 
Breeding Season: April, May, and June. 
Nest: In trees or bushes, usually 5 to 20 feet from the ground ; made of 
twigs, weed stems, grass, and rootlets. 
Eggs: 2 or 3; bluish white, speckled and blotched with rusty brown. 
Size 0.92 X 0.69. 
Amona the alders that border small streams in the 
valley, in the cherry orchards at cherry time, in the 
potato field when bugs are rife, in the oaks and ever- 
greens of the lower Sierra Nevada, one may hear the 
metallic “ eek, eek,” of the Black-headed Grosbeak. But 
do not judge his vocal powers by this squeaky call-note, 
for he is a delightful musician. Unlike most woodland 
singers, he chooses the sunny hours of the midday for 
