The Western Tree Sparrow 



hyemalis; for in doing so he forsakes the traditional southeasterly trend 

 of the autumn migrations, and turns westward. Of course we warmly 

 applaud such effort while we speculate upon the mysterious causes which 

 lead up to it. 



The slaty gray of the foreparts in caniceps is different enough from 

 thurberi's smart black to attract the attention of a novice, and the possi- 

 bility of the stranger's presence gives zest to a review of every local flock 

 of Juncoes in southern California. 



No. 53 



Western Tree Sparrow 



A. 0. U. No. 559a. Spizella arborea ochracea Brewster. 



Description. — Adults: Pileum, a malar streak, a streak behind eye, and a 

 small patch on side of chest, cinnamon-rufous or hazel; superciliary stripe and re- 

 maining portions of head and neck light neutral gray; throat and chest of same shade 

 superficially but duller by virtue of concealed dusky; an ill-defined spot of dusky in 

 center of lower chest; remaining underparts dull white, washed on sides with brownish; 

 general color of upperparts light buffy grayish brown; much outcropping black on 

 back, scapulars, and tertials; some rusty edging on back-feathers, scapulars, and great- 

 er wing-coverts; middle and greater wing-coverts tipped with white, forming two 

 conspicuous bands; flight-feathers grayish dusky margined with whitish and buffy; 

 the rectrices with narrow whitish edgings. Bill blackish above, yellow tipped with 

 dusky below; legs brown, feet darker; iris brown. In winter the cinnamon-rufous of 

 crown is slightly veiled, especially along median area, by ashy skirtings of feathers, 

 and the buff}- of upperparts inclines to strengthen. Length about 152.4 (6.00); wing 

 76 (3.00); tail 68 (2.68); bill 10 (.39); tarsus 20.8 (.82). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; resembles Western Chipping Sparrow 

 but much larger; white wing-bars with chestnut crown distinctive. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: On the ground or in low 

 bushes; composed of bark-strips, grasses, moss, etc., heavily lined with feathers. Eggs: 

 3 to 6; pale bluish green, finely and heavily and almost uniformly marked with reddish 

 brown (vinaceous russet). Av. size 19 x 14 (.75 x .55). 



Range of Spizella arborea. — Northern North America, south in winter to southern 

 border states. 



Range of 5. a. ochracea. — Western North America, breeding from the Anderson 

 River west to Bering Sea, and south to mountains of central British Columbia. In 

 winter south through the Western States east of the Cascade-Sierra divide, south to 

 Arizona and Texas, east to eastern Kansas. 



Occurrence in California. — One record: specimen taken by Captain Feilner 

 at Fort Crook, Shasta County. Probably a rare winter visitor in northeastern portion 

 of State. 



Authorities. — Henshaw, Rep. Orn. Wheeler Surv., 1879, p. 296; Townsend, 

 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., x., 1887, p. 218; Cooper, J. C, Orn. Calif., 1870, p. 206; Grinnell, 

 Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 11, 1915, p. 118. 



