[568] BIRDS OF OREGON 



Prairie (eastern Crook County), Jack Creek, Adel, and northern Lake 

 County, northeast of Silver Lake. It is found from October (earliest date, 

 September 16, Lake County) to March (latest date, April 12., Wasco 

 County). The localities where these juncos have been found are widely 

 scattered, indicating that continuous observation would reveal the species 

 almost everywhere in the eastern part of the State. 



While in Oregon, the birds are usually found in company with the 

 more abundant Shufeldt's Juncos and can be distinguished from them 

 easily by their larger size and the absence of black on the head and pink 

 on the flank. Their behavior is like that of the other species the flocks, 

 often mixed with other sparrows, feeding together in the weed patches 

 or working through the brush patches and displaying the conspicuous 

 white outer tail feathers as they flit nervously from bush to bush ahead 

 of an observer. When disturbed from the ground the birds often seek 

 shelter in the coniferous trees where they may remain unseen, although 

 their presence is known from the twittering alarm note uttered at frequent 

 intervals. 



Oregon Junco: 



Junco oreganus oreganus (Townsend) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adult male: Head, neck, and chest black or dark slaty, the black 

 chest pattern outlined on the white of the under parts as a black convex; middle of 

 back dark brown; sides deep pinkish brown; three outer tail feathers with white, out- 

 side pair wholly white. Adult female: black of male replaced by slaty; crown and 

 hind neck washed with brown, and rest of upper parts brownish; sides and flanks 

 duller; bill in life pinkish, tipped with dusky, and iris dark brown or claret color. 

 In winter: colors stronger, and feathers of chest tipped with whitish. Young: 

 streaked, on brown above, buffy below. Male; length (skins) 5.50-6.07, wing 

 2.. 86-3. 08, tail z. 43-1. 69, bill .41-. 45. Female: length (skins) 5.17-5.79, wing 1.78- 

 1.86, tail 2.. 34-2.. 46, bill .41 -.45." (Bailey) Nest: On the ground, made of dried 

 grass and lined with vegetable fiber and hair. Eggs: 4 or 5, white, speckled about 

 large end with brown. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from Yakutat Bay, Alaska, to Queen Charlotte 

 Islands and Vancouver Island. Winters southward along coast to California. In 

 Oregon: Uncommon winter visitor in Willamette Valley and on coast. 



As THE OREGON JUNCO is now understood, it is the breeding bird of the 

 coast of southern Alaska and British Columbia that winters south in 

 small numbers in Oregon from October to March (earliest date, October 

 i2_; latest, March 18, both Tillamook County), being most abundant on 

 the northern part of the coast. It is a darker and much redder bird in 

 winter than is the much more abundant Shufeldt's Junco, and it can, 

 under favorable light conditions, be distinguished in the field. Under 

 usual conditions, however, this subspecies cannot be distinguished by 

 field observations alone, and we are basing our statements regarding it 



