The Crossbills 



Distribution in California. — Of irregular occurrence in winter, chiefly in north- 

 western portion of State; has been taken at Pasadena. Possibly resident in summer in 

 northern portion of humid coast district. Not strictly a migrator}' - species, but highly 

 nomadic. 



Authorities. — Daggett, Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, vol. i., 1899, p. 51 ; Grinnell, 

 Condor, vol. xi., 1909, p. 102 (crit.) ; Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 7, 1912, pp. 

 73-74; Grin nell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 11, 1915, p. 108. 



No. 24b Sierra Crossbill 



A. O. U. No. 521, part. Loxia curvirostra bendirei Ridgway. 

 Synonym. — Bendire's Crossbill. 



Description. — "Similar to L. c. minor but decidedly larger; adult male averaging 

 rather lighter or brighter in color, the adult female slightly lighter and grayer." (Ridg- 

 way). Also female averaging duller, less extensively yellow. Av. of 38 males, after 

 Ridgway: wing 92.2 (3.63); tail 52.6 (2.07); bill 18.5 (.73); tarsus 17.5 (.69). 



Nesting. — Nest: As described by Preston, of twigs interwoven with fine grass 

 and pine needles, heavily lined with black moss {Alectoria fremonti) and some feathers; 

 diameter outside 4 to 5 inches; inside 2.50; depth outside 3 inches; inside 1.50; placedin 

 coniferous tree, settled deeply into protecting pine needles, usually toward tip of branch, 

 and at considerable height. Eggs: 3 or 4, dull greenish white, spotted and marked 

 sparingly, and chiefly at larger end, with purplish black, or else cinnamon dilution, 

 sometimes with a flush of faint purplish or a wash of "weak chocolate." Av. size (10 

 spec, Preston) 21.8 x 15.2 (.86 x .60). Season: Not well defined; probably erratic. 



Range of L. c. bendirei. — Central and northern mountain areas of United States, 

 except Pacific Coast district; breeding south at least to San Bernardino Mountains in 

 California; ranging irregularly in winter, east upon Great Plains, south to Lower 

 California and Old Mexico. 



Distribution in California. — Breeding range imperfectly made out, chiefly 

 Sierras south to Mount Whitney, but also Mt. Pinos (in Ventura County) and San 

 Bernardino Mts. Has been seen in summer in San Jacinto Mts., and in spring (Apr. 

 28, 191 1) on Santa Cruz Island, where it possibly has bred. In winter irregularly 

 over lowlands wherever conifers of any sort offer. Was common about Santa Barbara 

 in winter 1919-20. 



Authorities. — Newberry (Loxia americana) , Rept. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. vi., 

 pt. iv\, 1857, p. 87; Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. ii., 1884, pp. 101-107 (desc. 

 of bendirei); Fisher, A. K., U. S. Dept. Agric, N. Amer. Fauna, no. 7, 1893, pp. 81-82 

 (record stations); Merriam, C. H., U. S. Dept. Agric, N. Amer. Fauna, no. 16, 1899, 

 pp. 123-124 (near Mt. Shasta; crit.); Grinnell, Condor, vol. xi., 1909, p. 102 (critical); 

 Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 7, 1912, p. 74 (critical; status in so. Calif.); Grinnell 

 and Swarth, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., vol. 10, 1913, pp. 270-271 (crit.). 



THE "EARLY NUMBERS" of the Sparrow family, the Evening 

 Grosbeaks, the Crossbills, the Pine Grosbeaks, and, to a lesser extent, the 

 Purple Finches and the Siskins, are among the most baffling and difficult 

 of birds. Their psychology exhibits a combination of preoccupied intent- 

 ness and indifference which puts them beyond the pale of ordinary stand- 



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