[ 460 ] BIRDSOFOREGON 



bridge, Baker County (February 2.0, 1931); an d Brownsboro, Jackson 

 County (December 8, 19x6). The Biological Survey collection contains 

 specimens from Crane, Harney County (July 2.8, 1916); Malheur Caves, 

 Malheur County (October 6, 1916); Homestead, Baker County (June 17, 

 1916); and Mount Vernon, Grant County (July i, 1915). Patterson (ms.) 

 reported two nests in the Klamath country, May 16 and 30, 1930. 



The first authentic record for the State was Miller's (1904), who found 

 it at Shearers Bridge, Wasco County (May 2.7, 1899); at Bridge Creek, 

 Wheeler County (June 5, 1899); and at Cove in the same county (June 2.2., 

 1899). Woodcock (1902.) listed it as a "tolerably common resident" at 

 Yaquina Bay on the authority of B. J. Bretherton, but in the absence of 

 any subsequent supporting specimens or authentic records from the coast 

 we are convinced that this was a case of mistaken identification. Jewett 

 (191 6a) recorded a bird taken at Mount Vernon, Grant County, and 

 Sherwood (19x4) published the first record for Jackson County, a male 

 taken near Ashland, February 2.1, 192.4. 



The song of this tiny brown wren is exceptionally loud and powerful 

 for one so small. It echoes up and down the cool canyons until one is at 

 a loss to locate the singer. We have become best acquainted with the 

 bird in the rugged gorges of the Steens where it is fairly common. It 

 frequents the tumbled talus piles of huge blocks of rock found in these 

 deep gorges and is as elusive as a mouse when one actually tries to get 

 a view of it. Elsewhere in the State it is found only as widely scattered 

 individuals or pairs and one may follow a rim or canyon for many miles 

 without seeing or hearing one. 



Common Rock Wren: 



Salpinctes obsoletus obsolettis (Say) 



DESCRIPTION. "Bill about as long as head, slender, compressed, decurved at tip; 

 wing longer than tail; tail rounded, feathers broad; feet small and weak; tarsus 

 longer than middle toe, scaled behind. Adults: upper parts dull grayish brown, finely 

 flecked with black and white dots; rump light brown; tail graduated, tipped with 

 buffy brown and with subterminal band of black; middle tail feathers narrowly barred 

 with blackish; under parts dull whitish, brownish on flanks; chest usually finely 

 speckled. Young: upper parts rusty gray; under parts whitish anteriorly, brownish 

 on flanks and under tail coverts. Length: 5.11-6.35, wing 1.68-1.80, tail i. 11-1.40, 

 bill from nostril .44-. 54." (Bailey) Nest: In crevices in rocks, or sometimes about 

 buildings. Eggs: 7 or 8, white, spotted on larger end with brown. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from southern British Columbia, Alberta, and 

 Saskatchewan south to Mexico. Winters through much of its range and into Mexico. 

 In Oregon: Common permanent resident east of Cascades, rather rare west of Cas- 

 cades. Most abundant from April to October but present in smaller numbers through- 

 out winter. 



THE COMMON ROCK WREN makes its cheerful presence known musically 

 from every rock slide in eastern Oregon, where it is one of the character- 



