Perching Birds Chiefly Brown or Streaked. 
EASTERN SONG SPARROW GROUP. 
581. Song Sparrow (Melospiza cinerea melodia). L. 
6.2. Ads. Above reddish brown and gray with black 
streaks; tail with a decided rufous tinge; black streaks 
below conspicuously margined with reddish brewn, 
those of center of breast forming a patch. Notes. 
Call, a characteristic chimp or trink; song, too variable 
in form to admit of brief description but unmistakable 
in tone throughout the whole group. 
Range.— Eastern North America west to the Plains; breecs from 
Virginia and northern Illinois north to Quebec and Manitoba; winters 
from southern Illinois and Massachusetts to Gulf States. 
581b. Mountain Song Sparrow (M. c¢. montana). 
Similar to No. 581, but grayer; reddish brown not so 
bright; bill smaller. 
Range.—Rocky Mountain district of United States west to, and in- 
cluding Sierra Nevada in California; north to eastern Oregon, south- 
ern Idaho, and southern Montana; south in winter to western Texas 
and northern Mexico. (Ridgw.) ; 
581k. Merrill Song Sparrow (M. c. merrill). Sim- 
ilar to No. 581b, but slightly darker and more uniform 
above, with grayish edgings to interscapulars and 
scapulars less strongly contrasted with the darker 
mesial streaks, the latter usually with more brown 
than black. (Ridgw.) 
Range.—Breeds from northern California (Shasta County) in 
mountains and through Oregon and Washington east of Cascade 
Mountains, to northwestern Idaho; winters south into Mexico. 
(Ridgw.) 
581j. Dakota Song Sparrow (M. c. juddi). Simi- 
lar to No. 581, but above paler, especially line over 
eye and sides of neck; white below clearer; interscap- 
ulars with black center broader, reddish brown _ por- 
tions peer dark markings on breast restricted and 
more euaroly efined. (Bishop.) 
faa urtle Mountains and vicinity, North Dakota.’”’ (A. O. 
5] 
DESERT SONG SPARROWS. 
58la. Desert Song Sparrow (Melospiza cinerea 
fallax). W. 2.5. Above reddish brown and gray; 
below white with reddish brown streaks; usually xo 
black in plumage. 
Range.— Lower Sonoran district of southwest Arizona, southern Ne- 
vada, southeast California and northwest Lower California and Son- 
ora. (Ridgw.) 
581g. Brown Song Sparrow (M. c. rivularis). Sim- 
ilar to No. 581a, but larger, W. 2.7, with longer, more 
slender and more compressed bill; still less strongly 
contrasted markings, and duller, less rufescent colors. 
(Ridgw.) 
Range.—Mountain districts of southern Lower California. (Ridgw. ) 
CALIFORNIA SONG SPARROWS. 
581c. Heermann Song Sparrow (Melospiza cinerea 
heermannt). L.6.5; W. 2.5. Ads. Above chestnut 
olive-gray with usually distinct black streaks; tail 
without a decided rufous tinge; black streaks below not 
conspicuously bordered by rufous. 
Range.—Central valleys of California including lower levels of 
Sacramento and San Joaquin basins. (Ridgw.) 
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