SPARROWS 



(566) Junco aikeni Ridgway 

 WHITE -WINGED JUNCO. 

 Plumage as shown; body and head a 

 uniform light gray, except for the 

 abruptly white under parts; two con- 

 spicuous wing bars formed by the 

 white tips of the greater and middle 

 coverts; outer tail feathers white. L., 

 6.60; W., 3.50; T., 3.30; B., .50. Nest 

 — Of grasses; on the ground; eggs 

 greenish-white, spotted with reddish- 

 brown. 



Range — Breeds in mountains of 

 Wyo., S. Dak., and western Neb. 

 Winters south to Kan. and Col. 



(570a) Junco phaeonotus dor- 

 sal is Henry 

 RED-BACKED JUNCO. A 

 western species having a reddish- 

 brown dorsal patch. In southwest- 

 ern Te.x. in winter. 



dotted here and there with bushes. The bushes are some- 

 times used for home sites, but are most useful as choir lofts, 

 for Field Sparrows are quite musical and delight in sitting 

 in commanding positions where they can see and be seen as 

 they deliver their songs, which are quite variable with dif- 

 ferent individuals but usually consist of several very high- 

 pitched notes and end in a pretty little trill. During 

 the hottest and driest summer days, when other birds 

 are very fjuiet, these little fellows will be piping their very 

 loudest. 



While never as sociable as Chipping Sparrows, for the rea- 

 son that their preferred haunts are not such as are commonly 

 found very near dwellings, they are not timid, for they will 

 allow us to closely approach and on two occasions I have 

 seated myself within four feet of one of their ground nests, 

 with no concealment, and watched them feed their young. 

 Usually, however, they chirp excitedly if we get near their 

 homes. 



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