NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



275 



[Pale greenish blue.] 



596. Black-headed Grosbeak. Zam- 

 elodia melanocepkala. 



Range. -Unit- 

 ed States, west 

 of the Plains, 

 breeding from 

 Mexico north to 

 British Colum- 

 bia; winters 

 south of the 

 United States. 

 This species is of the size of the 

 last (8 inches long), and is a bright 

 cinnamon brown color with black 

 head, and black and white wings 

 and tail. The habits of this bird 

 are the same as those of the Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeak and its song is 

 very similar but more lengthy. 

 Their nests, like those of the last, 

 are very flimsy structures placed in 

 bushes or trees, usually below twen- 

 ty feet from the ground; they are 

 open frameworks of twigs, rootlets 

 and weed stalks, through which the 

 eggs can be plainly seen. The 

 eggs are similar to those of the 

 preceding but are usually of a paler 

 color, the markings, therefore show- 

 ing with greater distinctness. Size 

 1.00 x .70. 



Photo by J. B. Pardoe. 

 NEST OF ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. 



597. Blue Grosbeak. Guiraca cserulea. 



Range. Southeastern United States, breeding from the Gulf north to Penn- 

 sylvania and Illinois, and casually to New England. 



Smaller than the last two species and deep blue, with wings 

 and tail blackish, and the lesser coverts and tips of greater, 

 chestnut. It is a fairly common species in the southerly parts 

 of its range, nesting most frequently in low bushes or vines 

 in thickets; the nest is made of rootlets, weed stalks and I 

 grasses and sometimes leaves. The three or four eggs are I 

 bluish white, unmarked. Size .85 x .65. Data. Chatham 

 Co., Ga., June 10, 1898. 3 eggs. Nest of roots, leaves and 

 snake skin, lined with fine rootlets, 3 feet from the ground in a [Bluish white.] 

 small oak bush. Collector, Troup D. Perry. 



597a. Western Blue Grosbeak. Guiraca cserulea lazula. 



Range. Western United States north to Kansas, Colorado and northern Cal- 

 ifornia. 



Slightly larger than the last and lighter blue; nests the same and egg not dis- 

 tinctive. 



