The Savanna Sparrows 



Description. — Similar to P. s. savanna but decidedly paler and grayer; less 

 bay or none in edging of feathers of upperparts; yellow of superciliary stripe usually 

 paler, sometimes nearly white; bill longer and relatively weaker. Other dimensions 

 about as in P. s. savanna. 



Recognition Marks. — As in P. s. sandwichensis. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. As below. 



Range of P. s. alaudinus. — Western North America, breeding from the Arctic 

 coast of Alaska and Mackenzie, south to the southern portion of the Mexican plateau, 

 east to the western edge of the Great Plains; range on the west defined by that of 

 P. s. nevadensis from the Great Basin region, and P. s. brooksi of the Pacific Coast dis- 

 trict. (It is, however, incredible that in a species as plastic as P. sandwichensis the 

 same breeding form should hold from Mackenzie to Mexico, a latitudinal range of 

 fifty degrees!) Winters from northern California and northern Texas to Lower Cali- 

 fornia, Mexico, and Guatemala. 



Distribution in California. — Abundant in winter at lower levels and in open 

 situations throughout the State, but more commonly west of the Sierras. Found also 

 on the Santa Barbara Islands. 



Authorities. — Heermann (Emberiza savanna), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 

 2, vol. ii., 1853, p. 265; Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus, vol. xxxvii., 1853, p. 918 (desc. 

 of alaudinus); Grinnell, Condor, vol. iii., 1901, pp. 21-22 (crit.) ; Grinnell, Univ. Calif. 

 Publ. Zool., 5, 1910, pp. 311-316 (crit.; comp. with nevadensis); Bishop, Condor, vol. 

 xvii., 1915, p. 188 (crit.); Palmer, T. S., Condor, vol. xx., 1918, p. 123 (discovery). 



No. 41c Nevada Savanna Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 542b, part. Passerculus sandwichensis nevadensis Grinnell. 



Synonyms. — Desert Savanna Sparrow. Pale Savanna Sparrow. 



Description. — Similar to P. s. alaudinus but much paler throughout in all 

 plumages; white replacing buff, — black streaks thus more conspicuously contrasted, 

 there being a minimum amount of hazel marginings; size slightly less. — After Grinnell. 

 Of unquestionable validity as a subspecies. 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding — palest. 



Nesting. — Nest: In pasture or grassy bottom lands, a depression in ground, 

 lined with grasses, and sparingly with horsehair; usually under protection of a "cow- 

 blake." Eggs: 4 or 5; greenish or bluish white as to ground, spotted and marked, or 

 else mottled and clouded, with Vandyke brown or verona brown. Sometimes the 

 entire egg is covered with a pale wash of this color. Av. of 18 California- taken eggs 

 in the M. C. O. coll.: 18 x 13.5 (.71 x .53). Season: May-June; two broods. 



Range of P. s. nevadensis. — The Great Basin region; limits not yet defined, 

 but probably has a considerable northerly extension in the Upper Sonoran zone, 

 possibly to British Columbia; winters, at least southerly, to the Pacific Coast and 

 (probably) Mexico. 



Occurrence in California. — Resident in summer in watered valleys east of 

 the Sierra divide. An isolated colony reported by Grinnell from northeastern Kern 

 County. Winters south upon the deserts and southwest to the coast. Birds from 

 the northern confines of nevadensis probably occur throughout the State in winter 

 (See Bishop, Condor, XVII., Sept., 1915, p. 186). 



248 



