The Song Sparrows 



No. 62o Merrill's Song Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 581k. Melospiza melodia merrilli Brewster. 



Description. — Similar to M. m. fallax (next to be described), but darker 

 and much more rufescent, intermediate toward the coastal types. Prevailing tone 

 of upperparts grayish olive, changing to olive-gray anteriorly, the black element much 

 subdued; the rufous element strong on pileum and wing-and-tail-skirtings; streaks of 

 underparts heavy and broad, chiefly rusty, but with some dusky centering; flanks 

 and crissum washed with pale clay-color. 



Range of M. m. merrilli. — "Northwestern United States. Breeds from Fort 

 Sherman, Idaho, west and south through Washington and Oregon east of the Cascades 

 to Shasta County, California; winters south to Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Sonora." 

 — A. O. U. Committee. 



Occurrence in California. — Winter visitor to northern California east of the 

 humid coastal belt, irregularly southward over area not clearly determined. One 

 record from Mohave Desert (Victorville, by J. Mailliard and J. Grinnell). Said to 

 breed in Shasta County (Ridgway). 



Authorities. — McGregor (Melospiza melodia ingersolli), Bull. Cooper Orn. 

 Club, vol. i., 1899, p. 35 (Battle Creek, Shasta Co.); Ridgway, Birds N. and Mid. 

 Am., vol. i., 1901, p. 361 (crit. com. upon Calif, spec). 



No. 62p Rocky Mountain Song Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 581a, part; No. 581b, part. Melospiza melodia fallax (Baird). 



Description. — Somewhat similar to M. m. cooperi, but much lighter, more 

 grayish, the black element much reduced, confined to centers of feathers on pileum 

 and in jugular streak; the rufous of wing-edgings, etc., lighter; the streaks of under- 

 parts chiefly rusty; the 12-radial pattern of head usually more sharply defined. 



Range of M. m. fallax. — The breeding range of fallax presumably bounds that 

 of merrilli and fisherella upon the eastward, and so includes the Rocky Mountains 

 in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana, south to northern New Mexico; winters 

 south to western Texas, northern Mexico, and southern California. 



Occurrence in California. — Imperfectly made out, but occurs at least sparingly 

 in winter in southeastern and southern portions of State, probably west to Santa 

 Barbara. 



Authorities. — Oberholser, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xxiv., io,n,p. 252 (nomencl.); 

 Grinnell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. II, 1915, p. 127 (status in Calif.); Saunders, Pac. 

 Coast Avifauna, no. 14, 1921, p. 129, fig. 29 (Mont.; habits, nest and eggs, etc). 



No. 62q Modoc Song Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 581b, part. Melospiza melodia fisherella Oberholser. 



Description. — Said by its describer to differ from M. m. fallax in its darker 

 upperparts, more blackish brown streaks of under surface, heavier bill, and shorter 

 wing. There is undoubtedly justice in this claim, especially as regards specimens 

 from the extreme western part of the assigned range, viz., the Siskiyou district. Never- 

 theless, the change is so slight and so gradual that it is a pity to obscure the fact of 

 the close relationship existing between the breeding birds of interior northern Cali- 

 fornia and the Rocky Mountains by a difference in nomenclature. 



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