304 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



SPURRED TOWHEE. 



This is the Towhee of Eastern Oregon and Washington, 

 as the Oregon species is the Towhee of the Western part 

 of these States. (See page 60, for general character of this 

 bird.) 



Male, lighter than the Oregon Towhee described in the 

 book; more white spots on the wing and tail; sides, a deeper 

 rufous. Female like male, but black becomes slaty. 

 Length, 8.00. 



PYGMY NUTHATCH. 



Found everywhere east of the Cascades in the two 

 States, most often in pine tree regions. Has gregarious 

 habits. See general descriptions of Slender-billed and Red- 

 breasted Nuthatches. See page 230. So like his two 

 kinsmen, that one cannot be mistaken in identifying him. 

 Notice that the top of his head is brownish or bluish-gray, 

 in contrast with that of the Slender-billed and the Red- 

 breasted, and that the bird is quite a little smaller. Nape, 

 usually white; stripe over the eye, black; chin and cheeks, 

 white; rest of under-parts, dull buffy, Length, 3,80, 



WHITE-RUMPED SHRIKE. 



Common in most parts of the two States. A bird of prey, 

 unlike hawks and owls in appearance, but with a large 

 head, short wings and powerful, notched, toothed and 

 hooked bill, indicating the bird's character. He impales his 

 prey, mice, grasshoppers and small birds, on thorns or 

 barbed -wire fences. Upper parts, light slatish-gray; upper 

 tail-coverts, white; under parts, white, sometimes slightly 

 marked. Length, 9.00, 



