[ 462. ] BIRDSOFOREGON 



DISTRIBUTION. General: From northwestern Mexico and southwestern United States 

 north to southeastern Oregon. In Oregon: Known only from Steens Mountains, 

 Harney County. 



THE WESTERN MOCKINGBIRD is one of the most characteristic birds of 

 farms and gardens in our southwestern States where its mimic song is 

 heard throughout the day and often all night long during periods of 

 moonlight. It imitates every other bird call from that of the jay to the 

 varied notes of the gnatcatchers and the kingbirds and often gives even 

 a good imitation of the shrill call of the rock squirrel. The mockingbird 

 was not recorded as occurring in Oregon until Jewett (1937) published 

 the report of one seen in the Blitzen Valley by Mrs. Stanley G. Jewett in 

 August 1935 and one seen there by him on November 2.1, 1935; an adult 

 male collected in the Steens Mountains on February 9, 1936, one seen 

 there on March x6, 1936, and an immature male in the spotted plumage 

 collected there at an elevation of 7,500 feet on August 30, 1936. From 

 this meager evidence it would appear that rare as the "mocker" is in 

 Oregon, it must be a permanent resident in small numbers in the Steens 

 Mountains. 



Catbird: 



Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus) 



DESCRIPTION. "Rictal bristles well developed; tail longer than wing, much 

 rounded; scales of tarsus indistinct. Adults: dark slaty gray; crown and tail black; 

 under tail coverts dark rufous. Young: similar, but washed with brownish. Length: 

 8.00^9.35, wing 3.45-3.75, tail 3.70-4.15, bill .65-. 75." (Bailey) Nest: Largely of 

 roots and rootlets, placed in bushes or low trees. Eggs: 3 to 5, deep blue green. 

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

 central Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia south to 

 northern Oregon, northern Utah, New Mexico, and the Gulf States. Winters south 

 to Panama. In Oregon: Regular summer resident of northeastern corner. Undoubt- 

 edly breeds, although there are no actual breeding records. 



THE CATBIRD has evidently become increasingly common in the past few 

 years, although it is still confined to the extreme northeastern section of 

 the State. It arrives in May and remains until August (our earliest date, 

 May 2.1 ; latest, August 4, both Union County). Peck (191 la) published 

 the first Oregon record. He found it along Willow Creek in extreme 

 northern Malheur County in the summer of 1910. Jewett (191 6a) col- 

 lected a specimen at Mount Vernon, Grant County, June 30, 1915, that 

 is now in the Biological Survey collection, and Gabrielson (IJL^SL) pub- 

 lished three records for Wallowa County. We have specimens also from 

 Union and Umatilla Counties. Preble (Biological Survey ms.) reported 

 it at Pendleton in 1896. M. E. Peck (1915 ms.) reported it as having 

 been observed at La Grande "several years ago," and H. H. Sheldon (ms.) 

 from Baker County in 1916. 



