526 LAND BIRDS 
Young: Plumage darker in tone than that of the adult. 
Geographical Distribution: Pacific coast from Washington to Lower 
California. 
California Breeding Range: Chiefly in the upper Sonoran zone, from 
Shasta valley to San Diego. 
Breeding Season: May to July. 
Nest: A compactly woven cup-shaped structure; composed of plant 
fibre ; lined with down and other soft materials ; placed in tall 
bushes or low trees. 
Eggs: 3 to 5; bluish white. Size 0.65 X 0.52. 
THe Willow Goldfinch of California is in form, color, 
and habits so exactly like the goldfinch or “ thistle-bird ” 
of the East that one wonders why Western ornitholo- 
gists have made a subspecies of him. His shorter wings 
and tail and his smaller black cap are the only points of 
difference. Although he is resident wherever found, he 
changes his bright yellow and black plumage in the fall 
to a more sober garb of dark olive and black, and in his 
new suit is not always recognized as an old friend. In 
the spring, likewise, when the olive has given place to 
the gold, you hear it said, “ The wild canaries have come 
back again,’ when they have really been there all the 
time. His happy call has been interpreted as “ per- 
chic-o-ree, per-chic-o-ree,” and fits well with the gay 
undulating flight of the little songster. In addition to 
this he has a merry twitter that might be called a song. 
When the thistles bloom, he commences his housekeep- 
ing, building an exquisite cup-shaped nest in the fork 
of a willow, so low that one may with small exertion 
peep into it. It is beautifully lined with a compact 
felting of thistle-down and moulded smoothly on the 
edges with wonderful skill. The two pale blue eggs 
are brooded by the mother for ten days, and then the 
