Sparrows and Other Small Birds 



The finch tribe is well fitted to such surroundings, and is largely 

 represented in southern Alaska. The pine grosbeak is plentiful, espe- 

 cially in autumn, the Kadiak race of this species breeding along the 

 coast from the base of the Alaska Peninsula eastward as far, at least, 

 as Glacier Bay, making its nest in spruce trees. Crossbills are seen 

 irregularly, but no doubt breed. Rosy finches make their home on 

 the higher mountain-slopes, and redpolls rear their young in the 

 higher woods. 



Along the coast, in open, grassy places, are to be seen and heard 

 in summer the western savanna sparrow, Gambel's whitethroat, its 

 cousin, the golden-crowned, and the western tree-sparrow. Of the 

 snow-birds (Junco), both the typical -and the Oregon forms are to 

 be found, nesting on brushy hillsides at the roots of bushes ; while 

 several subspecies of the highly variable song sparrow are present, 

 but much scattered in distribution. The rusty song sparrow occurs 

 only at the extreme southern extremity of the Territory; the sooty 

 variety is numerous only as far north as Glacier Bay; the Yakutat 

 song sparrow belongs to the chilly front of the Mt. Fairweather 

 range, the Kenai to the Kenai Peninsula ; the Kadiak to the island of 

 that name and the neighboring mainland, and the Aleutian variety 

 to the Alaska Peninsula and certain of the Aleutian Islands. 



Forbush's sparrow, a variety of Lincoln's, and two races of fox 

 sparrows, are scattered in favorable brushy or grassy places all along 

 the coast to the Alaska Peninsula. One of the fox sparrows (Town- 

 send's) is a brilliant singer. 



The barn swallow (a few of which still place their nests on the 

 clififs of the outlying islands) gladdens the villagers along the coast 

 for a few weeks in midsummer; and tree swallows nest in old wood- 

 pecker-holes in the dead stubs in the woods, coming down to the shore 

 after their young are able to fly, and soon drifting southward. 



Few warblers, of course, appear upon the list of this part of the 

 country. The lutescent variety of the orange-crown, the Alaska 

 yellow warbler, Townsend's warbler, and the pileolated variety of 

 the blackcap, are all so far noted. The dipper is to be found on 

 almost every stream. 



The large family of wrens and thrashers is represented only by 

 the winter wren in its western variety; but a separate race inhabits 

 Kadiak Island. Brown creepers are fairly common along streams, 

 and there are two chickadees — the long-tailed and the chestnut- 



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