384 Slate-colored Junco 



ada on the north'. In summer it is distributed generally from New 

 England north throughout Canada as far west as Alaska. They also 

 breed in the upper parts of the Catskill Mountains and along the 

 ridge of the Appalachian Mountains south to Georgia. On many of 

 the mountains of western North Carolina I have found these birds a 

 most abundant species. In fact on some of the mountains one may 

 encounter more Snow-birds on a day's tramp than all other species 

 combined. Blueberries are very common in these mountains and in 

 summer the Snow-bird varies its usual diet of insects with these wild 

 berries which grow so profusely about its abode. 



The nest is built in a depression in the ground often on the side 

 of some little bank or among the mingled roots and sod of an up- 

 turned tree. If, during the summer, one comes upon a Junco with a 

 little worm or the larvae of some insect in its bill, he need only wait 

 a few minutes and the bird will probably betray its 

 Nest nest by going to feed its young. I have often had 



and Eggs this experience. In fact the Snow-bird's nest has 

 been for me one of the easiest nests to find. In every 

 instance I have found it by watching the birds going to it. The nest 

 itself is usually well hidden and the small amount of dried grass and 

 moss of which it is composed so well blends with the surroundings 

 that one would hardly expect to discover the little cradle with its 

 four or five speckled eggs or young. 



In the spring the Junco has a song. It is not very loud and is not 

 very long, but hearing it as one usually does when few other birds 

 are giving voice to their happiness, it makes a strong appeal to the 

 ear of the bird-lover. 



The Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis) is the common Junco 

 with which most people are acquainted. No less than eight other sub- 

 species have been described. Two of these will be mentioned. In the 

 southern Alleghany Mountains and breeding as far south as northern 

 Georgia there is a race of Juncos (/. h. carolinensis) that is slightly larger 

 and its markings are a little different from the common Junco. Still 

 another race, the Montana Junco, (/. h. montanus) is found in the Rocky 

 Mountains breeding from southern Alberta to Idaho and passing the 

 winter in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. 



This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association of 

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