ANAKTUVUK PASS 119 



and from Odrivik Lake in the Killik Valley. Their Nunamiut name 

 is Misapsak, which refers to their song. 



Among the series of seven young males collected between July 24 

 and August 14, all had attained adult weight but were deficient in tail 

 length. Numerous nests were found rather clearly visible on nigger- 

 heads among short willows or in nearby long grass. The nests were 

 rather bulky, predominantly of grass, occasionally of moss, were 

 lined with fine grass and caribou hair, and always contained white 

 ptarmigan feathers. 



The tree sparrows practically overrun the short willows of the 

 Valley in spring without, however, appearing in organized flocks 

 as do the redpolls. A majority of the incoming birds act as if about 

 to take up residence, but a comparison between numbers seen earlier 

 and later mdicates that many move north. 



The Nunamiut regard them as common all the way to the arctic 

 coast, and I have seen them over that range. My estimate is that a 

 smaller proportion of arriving tree sparrows moves north than is 

 the case among the redpolls. A great number of both species migrate 

 northward. 



As a natural accompaniment to the hardy behavior of tree sparrows 

 in their winter range, their body feathers are as thick and fluffy as 

 are those of arctic residents, and are of the same type. By that com- 

 parison, their feathers might well afford protection adequate for 

 winter residence in the arctic. I have no indications to suggest that 

 they winter in arctic Alaska, and the fatness of the arriving migrant 

 tree sparrows is appropriate to a long migration route ; in this respect 

 they can be contrasted with the lean redpolls, which may be suspected 

 of making a shorter migration (see p. 116) . 



Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii (Nuttall) 



15 males May 16- Aug. 8 weight (29), 22.2- 



29.5, average 25.6 



g. 

 9 females May28-July31 weight (9), 21.7-27.4, 



average 23.3 g. 

 4 yoimg males July 29-Sept. 12 



1 young female July 31 weight 26.7 g. 



2 nests, each with June 9, 12 



5 fresh eggs 



Earliest arrivals of Gambel's white-crowned sparrows were recorded 

 May 13, 1949, May 19, 1950, May 16, 1951, May 20, 1952 May 14, 

 1953, and May 18, 1954. 



On May 24, 1952, as Terris Moore and I were preparing for a flight 

 from Settles to Kobuk and Howard Pass the Gambel's sparrows were 

 apparently already settled in nesting places. This was a spring when 

 the late winter snow and ice persisted uncommonly late in northern 



469496—60 9 



