The Sage Sparrows 



Bell's Sparrow is probably not strictly sedentary, but neither is 

 it migrant. Local breeders form winter companies and rove more or 

 less, but how much or whither, we have no means of knowing. Mr. 



Taken in San Bernardino County 



Photo by Wright M. Pierce 



A HUMBLE HOME 



Stephens (MS) thinks that all individuals move southward some distance 

 in winter. Such a roving company I found in January, 1913, upon the 

 summit of the Santa Ynez range near Santa Barbara. What with the 

 dark coloring and the glint of white on the edge of the lateral tail feathers, 

 I took them for Juncoes at first, and this impression was heightened by 

 their constant use of the tittering, or "banner" note, so characteristic 

 of Junco hvemalis. 



No. 49 



Nevada Sage Sparrow 



A. O. U. Xo. 574.4. Amphispiza nevadensis nevadensis Ridgway. 



Synonyms. — Artemisia Sparrow. Sage Sparrow. 



Description. — Similar to Amphispiza belli, but much lighter in every respect; 

 the head pattern partially obliterated, and the dusky streakings of back sharper and 

 more numerous. Adults: Head and neck above and on sides neutral gray, washed 

 lightly with drab and touched on forehead with converging streaks of dusky; remaining 

 upperparts drab (light brownish gray), sharply marked on back and scapulars with 

 brownish dusky; pattern of wings as in preceding species, but all markings lighter; 

 axillars and edge of wing pale yellowish white; the lesser coverts also sometimes tinged 

 with yellowish; outer web and tip of outermost tail-feather white; a supraloral spot, 

 an orbital ring, and (usually) a short median line on forehead white; sides of head 

 slaty gray; lores dusk}-; underparts white, clearest on throat, where bounded and set 

 off from white of malar area by interrupted chain of dusky streaks; occasionally with 



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