598 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



Junco hyemalis montanus: General appearance of J. hyemalis, but 

 differs in having the sides distinctly pinkish 'brown, the color well 

 defined, and the entire head, neck and chest, slate-gray. 



Junco oregonus shufeldti: Similar to /. h. montanus, but differs in 

 having the head, neck and chest black or blackish; sides, pinkish 

 brown or vinaceous as in montanus. 



263. Junco hyemalis (Linn.). 

 Slate-colored Junco. Snowbird. 



Distr.: Occurs nearly throughout the whole of North America, 

 but chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, south to Florida, the Gulf 

 coast, Texas, and California in winter; breeds from the mountains of 

 New England, northern Wisconsin and Minnesota northward. 



The Junco is an abundant migrant and a more or less common 

 winter resident throughout Illinois. Although it does not breed in 



Illinois, stragglers are occasionally 

 observed late in the spring. Prof. 

 S. A. Forbes procured a specimen 

 near Elizabethtown, Hardin Coun- 

 ty, in southern Illinois, June 9, 

 1881 (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1881, 

 p. 180). 



In Wisconsin it is an abundant 

 migrant and a common winter 

 resident and also a more or less 

 common summer resident, and breeds in the northern part of the 

 state. Mr. John F. Ferry procured three nests of this species, two 

 containing four eggs and the third containing a young bird and two 

 eggs, near Woodruff, Vilas County, during the last week in June, 1908. 

 Kumlien & Hollister say: "Nests sparingly in northern Wiscon- 

 sin. Three sets were taken at Oconto in May, 1882 (coll. of L. K.). 

 The nests were placed on the ground among spagnum moss. Dr. 

 Hoy mentions its breeding on the shores of Lake Superior. In rare 

 instances the junco breeds in southern Wisconsin. Young barely 

 able to fly have been taken near Jefferson, which is the most southern 

 point for which we have any record, and this must be taken as an ex- 

 ceptional case." (Birds of Wisconsin, 1903, p. 100.) 



The nest is placed on the ground, composed of grass and often 

 lined with animal hair. The eggs are from 4 to 5, greenish white and 

 spotted and blotched with brown. Size about .75 x .58 in. 



