412 LAND BIRDS 



song birds or insect-eating birds has been sacrificed, and 

 Californians are to be congratnlated that as yet the 

 Cowbird is only an irregular winter visitant to the south- 

 eastern corner of their State. 



510. BREWER BLACKBmD. — Scolecopkagus 

 cyanocephahis. 



Family : The Blackbirds^ Orioles, etc. 



Length: 8.75-10.25. 



Adult Male: Uniform glossy greenish black; head and neck purplish 

 black. 



Adult Female, : Upper parts brownish slate ; head and neck brownish 

 gray, faintly glossed with purple ; wings and tail glossed with metal- 

 lic bluish green ; under parts brownish gray faintly glossed with green. 



Young : Similar to female, but paler and without gloss. 



Geographical Distribution: Western North America, north to British 

 Columbia ; east to Minnesota and Nebraska ; south to Lower Cali- 

 fornia. 



California Breeding Range: Below Boreal zone, nearly throughout the 

 State. 



Breeding Season: April 15 to July 1. 



Nest: Placed in low trees or bushes, not over 8 feet from the ground ; 

 rather bulky ; made of sticks, plant stalks, grass, shreds of bark, dry 

 grass, and moss, generally cemented with earth or manure ; lined 

 with fine rootlets, horsehair, and dry grass. 



Eggs : 4 to 6 ; pale gray or greenish white, profusely blotched, marbled, 

 streaked, and spotted with iiTegularly shaped markings of brown and 

 lavender. Size 0.96 X 0.71. 



The purple grackle of the East is replaced throughout 

 California by the Brewer Blackbird, which closely resem- 

 bles the Eastern species. It is a trifle smaller, with 

 blue rather than purple iridescence on its black plumage, 

 especially about the head and throat, but has the same 

 conspicuous yellow iris as its kinsfolk. In habits these 



