The Savanna Sparrows 



less prominent in superciliary stripe, is often diffused over plumage of entire head, 

 and, occasionally, down sides; the bend of the wing is pale yellow (or not); the sides 

 are more strongly suffused with buffy, which usually extends across breast. Length 

 of male about 146 (5.75); wing 77 (3.03); tail 53 (2.08); bill 12. 2 (.48); depth at base 

 7.6 (.30); tarsus 22.6 (.89). Females a little smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size (but much more robust in appearance 

 than a warbler); general streaky appearance; the striation of head, viewed from before, 

 radiates in twelve alternating areas of black and white (or yellow) ; larger and lighter 

 than the (rare) Savanna Sparrow (P. 5. savanna) ; larger, darker and browner than 

 the common Western Savanna Sparrow (P. s. alandinus) . 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest and Eggs: Much as in local 

 breeding species. 



Range of Passerculus sandwichensis. — "North America from the Arctic Coast 

 south to Guatemala and the West Indies, breeding in the East mostly north of the 

 United States, in the West south to the southern part of the Mexican tableland." 

 (A. O. U. Check-List.) 



Range of P. s. sandwichensis. — Northwest coast, breeding in Unalaska and 

 neighboring islands, wintering eastward and southward along the coast from British 

 Columbia to northern California. 



Occurrence in California. — Occasional winter visitant to northern localities 

 west of the Sierra divide; has been taken as far south as Merced County (Grinnell). 



Authorities. — Belding, Occ. Papers, Calif. Acad. Sci., 2, 1890, p. 142; Ridgway, 

 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., no. 50, pt. i., 1901, p. 191; McGregor, Condor, vol. ii., 1900, 

 P- 35; Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 11, 1915, p. 113. 



No. 41a Eastern Savanna Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 542a. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna (Wilson). 



Description. — "Similar to P. s. sandwichensis, but decidedly smaller (wing 

 averaging much less than 76.20 and never more than 73.66), the bill much smaller 

 both actually and relatively; coloration averaging browner, with superciliary stripe 

 less continuously or conspicuously yellow" (Ridgway). Av. of 16 adult males (R): 

 wing 69.3 (2.73); tail 49.3 (1.94); bill 10.4 (.41); depth at base 6.6 (.26); tarsus 20.8 

 (.82). 



Range of P. s. savanna. — Eastern North America, breeding in Boreal and Tran- 

 sition zones, from Ungava south to northern Iowa, mountains of Pennsylvania, etc. ; 

 and wintering from southern Indiana and New Jersey south to northeastern Mexico 

 and Cuba. 



Occurrence in California. — Based on specimens taken in Humboldt and Del 

 Norte counties, the first one Dec. 4, 1910, by C. I. Clay, of Eureka, and identified 

 by Dr. Joseph Grinnell; others by Messrs. Joseph Mailliard, Chester Lamb and Chase 

 Littlejohn. 



Authorities. — Clay, Condor, vol. xix., 1917, p. 68 (at Humboldt Bay) ; Mailliard, 

 Condor, vol. xxiv., May, 1922, p. 95 (occur, at Kneeland Prairie and Requa). 



No. 41b Western Savanna Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 542b. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus Bonaparte. 

 Synonym. — Gray Savannah Sparrow. 



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