FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(514) Hesperiphona vespertina 

 vespertina 



(Cooper) (Gr., western, voice). 



EVENING GROSBEAK. Ad. 

 cf — Plumage as shown; body a 

 peculiar brownish-yellow changing 

 to lighter on the belly and rump; 

 forehead and line over the eye bright 

 yellow; wings, tail, and head blackish; 

 inner secondaries and greater coverts 

 white. Bill yellowish. The 9 is 

 marked similarly but is duller colored 

 and has the upper tail coverts con- 

 spicuously tipped with white. L., 

 8.00; W., 4.25; T., 2.7s; B., .75, 

 ver)' stout and conical. Nest — A 

 flat structure of twigs and rootlets 

 at low elevations in trees or buslies. 



Range — Breeds in interior Canada, 

 chiefly Alberta. Winters south very 

 irregularly to Mo., Ohio, Pa., and 

 New England. 



" i!?91!(B«w»«»=ffp'-: 



XK.ep , .„;>,;•„ 



""AAaii, 



companies of greater or less size at all seasons. They are 

 noisy at all times and take delight in uttering their queer 

 medley of squeaks and explosive "chahs" and "cacks. " 

 They are not at all timid, flocks of them often nesting in 

 yards where pine trees are growing close to houses. As a 

 rule they prefer coniferous trees in which to place their rather 

 bulky nests of twigs, weeds, and coarse grass. 



Crackles feed extensively on the ground. They delight in 

 walking along the shores of ponds, rivers, or even on sea 

 beaches, where they can usually find dead fish, frogs, mol- 

 lusks, etc., or perhaps they may be fortunate enough to 

 catch a few living ones. They sometimes follow closely 

 upon the heels of the farmer as he ploughs or harrows, 

 picking up worms or beetles that are exposed to view. At 

 other times, when the farmer is not about, they go along the 

 rows of sprouting corn, and not a few of the tender shoots 

 may be pulled up. During summer they like to go "bird 

 nesting"; they are very successful at finding nests, and 

 either eggs or young birds are missing after their visits. 



289 



