GRAY-CROWNED LEUCOSTICTE. 



524. Leucosticte tephrocotis. 6 l / 2 inches. 



Female similar to, but duller colored than the male. 



All the members of this genus are western and 

 northern, this one only being found east of the Rockies 

 and then only in winter, when it occasionally is found 

 east to the Mississippi. They wander about in rocky 

 mountainous regions, feeding upon seeds and berries. 

 They are very restless and stop in a place but a short 

 time before flying swiftly away, in a compact flock, 

 to another feeding ground. 



Note. An alarm note of a short, quick whistle. 



Nest. Built on the ground, usually beside a rock or 

 in a crevice; composed of weeds and grass, lined with 

 finer grass. They lay three or four unmarked white 

 eggs in June. 



Range. Western U. S., breeding in the higher moun- 

 tain ranges; in winter sometimes wandering east to 

 the Mississippi. 



