The Black-headed Grosbeaks 



The black-and-white striped head with heavy conical beak (and convex culmen) of 

 female unmistakable. 



Nesting. — As in next form. 



Range of Hedymeles melanocephalus. — Western North America from the plateau 

 of Mexico north, in summer, to eastern Kansas, southeastern Dakota, Montana, and 

 British Columbia; breeds throughout its range. 



Range of H. m. melanocephalus. — Restricted to the portion lying east of the 

 Sierra-Cascade Mountain system. 



Range in California. — At least the Colorado River valley during migrations; 

 presumably the breeding bird in mountain ranges east of the Sierras (Grinnell). 



Authorities. — Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. xii., 1914, p. 179 (Colorado 

 R. ; occurrence; crit.); Swarth, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 4, 1904, p. 44 (Ariz.; habits, 

 migr., molt, etc.); Oberholser, Auk, vol. xxxvi., 1919, p. 412 (nomencl. ; crit.). 



No. 74a Pacific Black-headed Grosbeak 



A. O. U. No. 596, part. Hedymeles melanocephalus capitalis (Baird). 



Description. — Similar to H. m. melanocephalus, but bill averages smaller; 

 black of crown more liable to invasion of tawny from behind, especially in post-ocular 

 stripe, and occasionally developing a median crown-stripe. 



Remark. — There is no doubt that coastal specimens exhibit this ochraceous 

 invasion of the cephalic areas more frequently than do Rocky Mountain specimens; 

 but the latter do show individual examples of the same tendency, and the grounds of 

 separation are probably invalid. 



Nesting. — Nest: Externally a bulky and oftenest airy assemblage of interlaced 

 twigs or dishevelled weed-stems, or sometimes a generous mass of leaf-bearing twigs 

 plucked green; internally a rather careful hollow of interwoven rootlets, or else a choice 

 of finer strands of the materials already used outside — some nests are composed of a 

 single material rigidly selected; placed at moderate heights in the larger bushes, sap- 

 lings, or small trees, chiefly those of the riparian association. Eggs: 3 or 4; bluish 

 green (pale to light niagara green), spotted sparingly or profusely, but always sharply, 

 sometimes uniformly, but oftener chiefly about larger end (sometimes in wreath or 

 cloud-cap) with brownish olive, buffy olive, or sepia. A v. of 27 eggs (of both races): 

 24.1 x 17.5 (.95 x .69). Season: May-June; one brood. 



Range of II. m. capitalis. — The Pacific Coast district of western North America, 

 broadly; probably includes eastern slopes of Sierra-Cascade system. 



Distribution in California. — Common breeder in Upper Sonoran and Tran- 

 sition zones practically throughout the State. Association preferably riparian or in 

 deciduous timber (but found alike in humid Transition and in arid Upper Sonoran. 

 Casual in winter in the San Diegan district (Santa Barbara, Dec. 25, 1915, following). 



Authorities. — Heermann (Coccoborus melanocephalus), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., ser. 2, ii., 1853, p. 267; Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. ix., 1858, p. 498; 

 Shufeldt, Auk, vol. v., 1888, p. 438 (osteology); F. A. Merriam, Auk, vol. xiii., 1896, 

 p. 120 (song, flight); McAtee, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 32, 1908, p. 60, 

 col. pi. (food) ; Beal, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 34, 1910, p. 93 (food); 



BIX, and again, bix. It is our own bird that speaks from the shrub- 

 bery on an August day, and by this alone we know that the minstrel of 



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