1913 BIRDS OF THE FRESNO DISTRICT 83- 



to five or six years ago, have seemingly become well established throughout the 

 vineyards northeast of Fresno, and elsewhere also. The presence of this bird 

 was first suspected in early May, 1906, when a- small, long-tailed sparrow was 

 frequently seen and heard in a vineyard near Clovis, but not until June 5 was the 

 identity satisfactorily established. On that date a nest with three eggs was found. 

 An account of the habits of this bird waS published by the writer in The Condor, 

 XII, 1910, p. 193. 



At the present time the Brewer Sparrows are much more generally distri- 

 buted, and may be found in nearly all the vinevards near the city. They were 

 found near Malaga the first week in July, 191 1, and near Tarpey during May. 

 In a certain small willow-grown swampy area near Clovis, on September 4, I 

 found quite a flock of small sparrows in a thick foliaged tree. They were in 

 full song and their vocal efi'orts were not at all unlike a chorus of Intermediate 

 Sparrows, but lacked some of the rich quality of the latter. Individuals were 

 constantly appearing on the outer branches, singing a few notes and then diving- 

 down into the heavy foliage below, when others took their places. I was not a 

 little surprised to find that these were the little mouse-like Spizclla breweri, as I 

 had always been led to believe that this species frequented only the sage brush of 

 dry hillsides, and they seemed out of place in a swamp where Bermuda grass and 

 willows suggested song sparrows more than anything else. 



Although the ornithological books do not give this bird as a resident as far 

 north as Fresno, yet it certainly does remain with us in limited numbers, as was 

 evidenced by the author finding several of them in a weedy old berry patch near 

 Clovis on December 26, 1910. 



As these little birds do no damage whatever, they should be encouraged to 

 nest in vineyards, as they must glean many an insect from the leaves during the 

 long summer days. 



Sierra Junco. Junco oreganns thurberi Anthony. 



Surely everyone is familiar with the little black-headed snowbirds that seem 

 to especially rejoice in the coldest, most stormy weather, this preference having 

 given rise to their common name. Among those who live in the foothills the idea 

 prevails that the assembling of a flock of these birds certainly presages a snow- 

 storm. 



Juncos nest abundantly in the Sierras in PVesno County, but appear in the 

 valley only during the winter months. My earliest record for their appearance 

 in the fall is October 24, 1905 ; but I feel certain that they had appeared earlier 

 than that. In the spring they remain until the middle of March and sometimes 

 later. April 11, 191 1, three or four juncos were noted in some willows near 

 Clovis. As this species feeds like the sparrows on the ground where, no doubt, 

 it destroys numberless weed seeds, it should be encouraged to frequent vineyards 

 and pasture lands. 



The writer has frequently observed an entirely dififerent junco. probably 

 Junco hycmalis hyemalis, the eastern Slate-colored Junco, but until a specimen 

 has been preserved for identification this point cannot be determined. These in- 

 .lividuals are always more shy than the birds with which thev associate, and upon 

 the slightest provocation take to the nearest brush or trees. They appear after 



