FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(539) Rhynchophanes 

 mccowni 



(Lawr.) (Gr., beak, I appear, relative to 

 the stouter beak than that of the other species). 



McCOWNS LONGSPUR. Ad. & 

 in summer — Plumage as shown. 

 Crown, maxillary stripe and breast 

 patch black; under parts grayish- 

 white, lightest on the throat; lesser 

 wing coverts chestnut; outer tail 

 feathers chiefly white. In winter 

 the black on breast is hidden by white 

 edges of feathers; upper parts brown- 

 ish, streaked with dusky. 9 — 

 Similar to winter male but with no 

 chestnut on the shoulder and no 

 concealed black on breast. L., 6.00; 

 W., 3.50; T., 2.25; B., .50. 



Range — Great Plains. Breeds 

 from Sask. south to Wyo. and Minn. 

 Winters from Col. and Kan. south- 

 ward. 



SMITfl'S LONGSPUR breeds only on the plains west 

 of Hudson Bay, and winters on our plains south to Texas. 

 It is a very handsome species in its summer plumage, but 

 unfortunately we do not see the nuptial dress here, as it is 

 not perfected until after they have passed our northern 

 border in spring. 



CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS and ]Mc- 

 COWN'S LONGSPURS are characteristic birds of the Great 

 Plains, breeding from Kansas north to Saskatchewan. Dur- 

 ing spring the males of both species have the habit of soaring 

 to a height of fifteen or twenty yards, then elevating their 

 wings so as to form a V over the back and sliding back to their 

 starting point, to the tune of their tinkling melodies. 



Their nests are composed of mosses and line grasses, 

 placed in hollows on the ground. The eggs are clay color, 

 spotted and splashed profusely with brown and lilac. The 

 birds, the nests, or the eggs are equally difficult to see, 

 as they so closely match the ground in color. 



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