[ 442- ] BIRDSOFOREGON 



California Bush-tit: 



Psaltriparus minimus californicus Ridgway 



DESCRIPTION. "Similar to minimus, but lighter, top of head light brown, contrasting 



more sharply with light gray of back; under parts light brownish. Length: 4.00- 



4.50, wing 1.85-z.io, tail z. 00-1.30." (Bailey) Nest and eggs: Same as for Coast 



Bush-tit. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: From Rogue River Valley and southern Klamath County 



south through interior of California to Kern County. In Oregon: Permanent resident 



of Rogue River Valley, Umpqua Valley, and Klamath County. (See Figure 14.) 



MERRILL (1888) reported bush-tits from Fort Klamath but took no speci- 

 mens. Although Fort Klamath is a few miles farther north than any of 

 our records, the birds were undoubtedly California Bush-tits. Ridgway 

 (1904) listed a bird from Wilbur, Douglas County, as one of this race, 

 and Gabrielson (1931) listed the species as a common resident of the 

 Rogue River Valley. We have many skins from the Rogue River and from 

 the vicinity of Klamath Falls and Olene in Klamath County. It is about 

 equally common in Jackson and Klamath Counties and somewhat less 

 abundant in Josephine County, though present in all three throughout 

 the year. 



Lead-colored Bush-tit: 



Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus (Baird) 



DESCRIPTION. "Upper parts plain bluish gray; sides of head brown; under parts grayish 

 white, faintly tinged with pale brownish on belly. Length: 4.1^-4.60, wing z.oo- 

 z.i5, tail 1.35-2.. 50." (Bailey) Nest and eggs: Same as those of other bush-tits in 

 Oregon. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from eastern Oregon and western Wyoming south to 

 Mexico and western Texas. In Oregon: Permanent resident and breeding species 

 from Canyon Mountain, Grant County, and Sumpter, Baker County, south to 

 Nevada-California line and west as far as Lakeview. (See Figure 14.) 



THE LEAD-COLORED BUSH-TIT, which acts exactly like its relatives, is 

 probably most common in Oregon in the Steens and other desert ranges 

 but is a regular resident on Hart Mountain and in the Warner Mountains 

 east of Lakeview. Bendire (Brewer 1875) to ^ a specimen at Camp 

 Harney, November 14, 1874, an d he (Bendire 1877) saw others near the 

 summit of Canyon Mountain in June 1876. This record still remains the 

 farthest north and west for the species. H. Dobyns took one near Sumpter, 

 Baker County, October 2.8, 192.8, which was recorded by Jewett (19300). 

 A specimen collected by Gabrielson at Lakeview, October 2.8, 1919, is 

 the westernmost record to date. Jewett has taken several in Malheur 

 County, and there are others in the Biological Survey collection taken 

 by Preble. We have numerous specimens from southern Harney County, 

 which seems to be the center of abundance. 



We found one nest, containing six eggs, hung 3 feet up in a rosebush 



