124 



YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



wings nervously as it Hits about among 

 the branches. Commonly solitary. 



In summer frcc|Uonts continuous or 

 broken stands of coniferous forest chief- 

 ly in the Canadian life-zone; less re- 

 stricted in winter. Disperses widely to 

 the lowlands in winter. In the Yosemite 

 region during the breeding season, al- 

 titudes of occurrence are chiefly be- 

 tween 5.500 and 9.000 feet. Passes 

 through Yosemite Valley, occasionally 

 nesting there. 



WAGTAILS: Family Motacillidae 



white; below bufTy; breast and sides 

 with dusky streaks; slender bill. Has 

 habit of ua^^iuii its tail ufjon alight- 

 ing. Fore-and-aft movements of the 

 head may occur as the bird walks. Of- 

 ten seen in flocks. 



Frequents fields, beaches, or other 

 open ground. Common W. V. at low 

 elevations in the western part of the 

 ^'osemite r''gion. Has been observed in 

 the fall oi Mount Lvell at an eleva- 

 tion of 12,000 feet. 



WAXVVIXGS: Familv Bombvcillidae 



WATER PIPIT (Anthus spinolctta): 

 6-7 in. Above grayish-broivn; buffy line 

 over eye; outer tail feathers largely 



WATER PIPIT 



6-7 





CEDAR WAX WING ( BombycUla 

 cidrnrun}): 6/2-8 in. Back brown; 

 ruinp and tail grayish; throat and eye- 

 stripe black; tail tipped with yellow; 

 secondary wing feathers often marked 

 with red ''scaling-wa.\" spots: belly yel- 

 lowish: crested. Usually seen in flocks. 

 Call a high-pitched keep keep. Feeds 

 on berries and other fruits, buds, flower 

 parts, and insects. 



When breeding frequents willows, 

 alders, and other streamside growth or 

 cutover forests in the Transition life- 

 zone of the humid coast. An irregular 

 M. and widespread \V. V. Occasional 

 in fall, winter, and spring at lower ele- 

 vations in the Yosemite legion. Flocks 

 have been seen in Yosemite Valley in 

 some vears. 



CEDAR WAX WING 



6^-8 , , 



', -^^ 



y 



''fMMi 





^ ' '^ *i> 



,-i'^v>> 



SILKY FLYCATCHERS: 



Family Ptilogonatidae 



*PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla ni- 

 tens): l-iy.\ in. Slender, glossy, black 

 bird with conspicuous white wing- 

 patches; prominent loo.se crest. Female 

 dark gray; patches in wings light gray. 

 Feeds on mistletoe berries and other 

 fruits and occasionally engages in flv- 

 catching. at which it is expert in all 

 seasons. When bird alights, the tail is 

 jerked. 



Most likely to be seen in summer in 

 the blue oak belt of the western part 

 of the "S'osemitc region where it is es- 

 pecially attracted to trees with mistle- 

 toe clumps. Inhabits the Lower and 

 Upper Sonoran life-zones. 



