VARIED THEVSH 615 



Occurrence. — A winter visitant to the western slope of the Sierras below the level 

 of heavy snows. Common locally, reaching Yosemite Valley in late autumn (for example, 

 October 28, 1915), and present in midwinter from south-facing slopes as high as 5000 

 feet (on Big Oak Flat road below Gentrys) down to the river-bottom thickets in vicinity 

 of Snelling (January 7, 1915). Highest station: 7300 feet on ridge two miles north 

 of Yosemite Point, three seen high in red firs October 30, 1915. Other stations of obser- 

 vation not mentioned beyond: Feliciana Mountain, October 28 to November 1, 1915; 

 Gentrys, October 23, 1915 (earliest date) ; El Portal, December 9 and 17, 1914. Forages 

 in scattered companies in chaparral or dense growths of small trees; seldom seen in 

 the open. 



Only the autumn or winter visitor to the Yosemite re^on will be likely 

 to meet with the Northern Varied Thrush. Even when present, this bird 

 is of such retiring disposition and quiet demeanor that it easily escapes 

 detection. The writers have repeatedly approached within a few yards 

 of birds on the ground or perched in bushes or trees, without realizing 

 their presence until the birds took flight. One might think the bright 

 markings of these birds would render them conspicuous; but, in fact, the 

 broken pattern serves to obliterate their outlines against the leafy back- 

 ground. 



Like its not distant relative, the Western Robin, the Varied Thrush 

 (sometimes called Oregon Robin) feeds in the winter season chiefly on 

 berries of various sorts, and its local occurrence and relative abundance 

 is governed by the season's crop of these. Two or three of these birds 

 seen among golden oaks near Camp Lost Arrow, November 13, seemed to 

 be feeding on mistletoe berries. On the Big Oak Flat road, about 3 miles 

 out of Yosemite Valley, on December 28, 1914, 8 or more Varied Thrushes 

 were seen feeding on the sweetish berries of a manzanita (Arctostaphylos 

 mariposa) . On the Wawona road at Grouse Creek, November 26, 1914, two 

 were apparently feeding on berries of the creek dogwood. In the Upper 

 Sonoran foothill region, the Christmas berry or toyon (Heterameles arhuti- 

 folia) furnishes a favorite food as long as the crop lasts. 



In 1920 the species was first seen on October 24, and thereafter "large 

 flocks" were observed on various dates throughout November and Decem- 

 ber (C. W. Michael, MS). 



Western Bluebird. Sialia mexicana occidentalis Townsend 



Field characters. — Size half again that of Junco; wings relatively long, reaching 

 nearly to end of tail. Male : Upper surface of body mainly intense dark blue ; chin and 

 throat the same; middle of back and breast, and sides of body, chestnut brown. Female: 

 Upper surface and throat dull grayish blue; breast and sides pale chestnut brown. 

 Young: Breast mottled with dusky. Of quiet demeanor; movements deliberate. Voice: 

 Song of male (seldom heard) a monotonous repetition of the call notes; call note a 

 single soft kew, or else a harsh though not loud che-check. 



