526 LAND BIRDS 



Young: Plumage darker in tone than that of the adult. 



Oeogrwphwal Distribution : Pacific coast from Washington to Lower 



California. 

 California Breeding Mange : Chiefly in the upper Sonoran zone, from 



Shasta valley to San Uiego. 

 Breeding Season : May to July. 

 Nest : A compactly woven cup-shaped structure ; composed of plant 



fibre ; lined with down and other soft materials ; placed in tall 



bushes or low trees. 

 Eggs : 3 to 5 ; hluish white. Size 0.65 X 0.52. 



The Willow Goldfinch of California is in form, color, 

 and habits so exactly like the goldfinch or " thistle-bird " 

 of the East that one wonders why Western ornitholo- 

 gists have made a subspecies of him. His shorter wings 

 and tail and his smaller black cap are the only points of 

 difierence. Although he is resident wherever found, he 

 changes his bright yellow and black plumage in the fall 

 to a more sober garb of dark olive and black, and in his 

 new suit is not always recognized as an old friend. In 

 the spring, likewise, when the olive has given place to 

 the gold, you hear it said, " The wild canaries have come 

 back again," when they have really been there all the 

 time. His happy call has been interpreted as "per- 

 chic-o-ree, per-chic-o-ree," and fits well with the gay 

 undulating flight of the little songster. In addition to 

 this he has a merry twitter that might be called a song. 

 When the thistles bloom, he commences his housekeep- 

 ing, building an exquisite cup-shaped nest in the fork 

 of a willow, so low that one may with small exertion 

 peep into it. It is beautifully lined with a compact 

 felting of thistle-down and moulded smoothly on the 

 edges with wonderful skill. The two pale blue eggs 

 are brooded by the mother for ten days, and then the 



