82 The Birds of Albany County 



I found Song Sparrow from early Spring to late Autumn to 

 be the most numerous of all the birds. 



Slate-colored Junco; Black Snowbird. — Junco 



hyemalis. 6.27 



Common in Spring and Fall 



Field marks. — Upper parts, throat, and upper breast light 

 slate color; lower breast white, giving vest-like effect; 

 white outer tail-feathers show prominently in flight. 



I have found the Black Snowbird very common about 

 Albany, in the Fall and early Spring, but though they are 

 supposed to be present in Winter, I have never encountered 

 them hereabouts after the really cold weather had set in. 

 Juncos breed in the Adirondacks, occasionally in the Catskills, 

 and possibly in the higher Helderbergs. 



In the Spring of 1904, I found these birds on Greenbush 

 Heights, Rensselaer County, as late as the last week of April, 

 and I harbored the hope of finding them breeding there later. 

 But on my next visit to that locality — the middle of May — 

 they had all disappeared. Juncos always travel about Albany 

 in little companies. In late October and throughout the milder 

 parts of November, Juncos are the most common birds in 

 this section, along old roadsides and country lanes. In their 

 summer home they have a slight song, but only utter a short 

 metallic chirp hereabouts. 



