GROSBEAKS, FINCHES, SPARROWS: Family Fringillidae [593] 



Modoc Song Sparrow: 



M.elospi%a melodia fisherella Oberholser 



DESCRIPTION. Similar to M. m. fallax but darker and in all of its markings, the pale 

 browns being replaced by darker shaded tending toward blackish. Si%e: Length 

 (skins) 4. 50-5. 50, wing 1.48-1. 85, tail 1.31-1.93, bill .41-. 47. Nest and eggs: Similar 

 to those of M. m. fallax. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from southeastern Oregon, northwestern Nevada, 

 and southwestern Idaho south through eastern California to Owens and Shasta 

 Valley. Winters south to California. In Oregon: Breeds through most of Malheur 

 (except perhaps some of higher peaks), Harney, Lake, and Klamath Counties north 

 to Columbia River along eastern slope of Cascades and around base of Blue Moun- 

 tains following lower valleys sometimes well back into range. Winters throughout 

 same area. (See Figure 2.0.) 



THE MODOC SONG SPARROW is the breeding form of the sagebrush areas 

 of the State. It follows the base of the Blue Mountains around from the 

 south and west to Pendleton and extends into the mountain valleys along 

 their western and southern flanks, typical birds being found even to central 

 Baker County. To the west the birds extend over the summit of the 

 Cascades into the Rogue River Valley in more or less typical form that 

 rapidly intergrades into morphna. 



The first record that can be certainly referred to this race is of Bendire's 

 (Brewer 1875) nest an< ^ eggs taken between Camp Harney and Malheur 

 Lake, May 2.9, 1875, an< ^ published under the name M. m. guttata, a name 

 no longer in use. Mearns (1879) an d Merrill (1888) listed it from Fort 

 Klamath, and since that time it has been recorded from various sections 

 of the State. We have notes of nests containing fresh eggs from May 2. 

 to June 12. inclusive, dates that doubtless could be greatly extended by 

 more intensive field work. 



Merrill's Song Sparrow: 



Melospiza melodia men ill i Brewster 



DESCRIPTION. "Similar to morphna, but with smaller bill and ground color of upper 

 parts lighter and more ashy; dark markings especially on back blacker and more 

 sharply defined ; the white of under parts clearer and more extended. Male: length 

 (skins) 5.65-6.40, wing i. 56-1. 75, tail 1.51-2.. 83, bill .45-. 51. Female: length 

 (skins) 5.48-6.2.1, wing 1.50-1.68, tail 1.40-1.76, bill .44-. 50." (Bailey) Nest 

 and eggs: Same as those of M. m. fallax. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Idaho and eastern Washington. Winters through 

 eastern Oregon to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. In Oregon: Wintering bird 

 only. May be expected in almost any section. 



ALTHOUGH Jewett (19090) referred the song sparrow of Baker County to 

 this race, and Walker (1917) did the same for the birds of central Oregon, 

 the present restrictions on the range of this form entirely eliminate 



