The Desert Sparrow 



Taken in San Bernardino County 



UPON THE POINT OF FLIGHT 



Photo by Wright M, Pierce 



No. 47 



Desert Sparrow 



A. 0. U. No. 573a. Amphispiza bilineata deserticola Ridgway. 



Description. — Adult: Crown and nuchal collar, continuous with sides of 

 breast and upper tail-coverts, neutral gray; hindhead and remaining upperparts 

 brownish gray, nearly fawn color on middle of back and on wings; a conspicuous white 

 superciliary stripe bounded narrowly by black above and separated from white malar 

 stripe (not reaching base of bill) by gray on sides of head; lores, anterior portion of 

 malar region, chin, throat and chest centrally black, the last-named with convex 

 posterior outline; remaining underparts white tinged with grayish on sides and flanks; 

 tail blackish, the outer web of outermost rectrix chiefly white, the inner web with white 

 spot on tip, second rectrix (sometimes third or even fourth) tipped with white on inner 

 web. Bill dusky; feet and legs brownish black. Young birds: Like adults but with- 

 out black pattern of head markings; chin and throat white or flecked with grayish; 

 breast streaked with same and back faintly streaked with dusky; some buffy edging 

 on wing. Length of adults about 135.9 (5.35); wing 67 (2.64); tail 64 (2.52); bill 10 

 (.40); tarsus 19 (.75). Females a little less. 



273 



